FCT Elections: 572 Candidates for 68 Positions on Feb 21

The upcoming FCT area council elections, scheduled for February 21, 2026, will see 572 candidates vying for 68 positions, including chairmanship, vice chairmanship, and councillorship roles. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the nominations from 16 political parties, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) being the main contenders for control over the six area councils.

The data released by INEC indicates a poor representation of women, with only one female candidate contesting for chairmanship and five for vice chairmanship. The elections will feature 65 candidates for chairmanship and vice chairmanship, while 507 candidates will compete for 62 councillorship positions.

Notably, the Bwari area council has the highest number of councillorship candidates at 84, but there are no female candidates in several councils. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has publicly stated his support for President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid, emphasizing that he will back candidates who align with Tinubu's agenda.