Wike Declares Work-Free Day for Abuja Area Council Elections

Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has declared Friday, February 20, 2026, a work-free day in Abuja in preparation for the area council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026. In a statement issued on February 19, 2026, Wike announced that there would be restrictions on movement across the FCT starting from 8 PM on Friday until 6 AM on Saturday.

This directive is aimed at ensuring the security of the electoral process. The Minister's announcement aligns with a similar approval from the presidency, which also mandated movement restrictions within the FCT during the same timeframe.

Security agencies have been directed to ensure strict compliance with these directives to maintain order during the elections across the six councils in the FCT.