The All Progressives Congress (APC) took an early lead in several polling units during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections on Saturday, according to results uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV).

As of 10:15 p.m., APC polled 2,726 votes in Kwali LGA, ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 2,104 votes and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with 180 votes. In Kuje, APC led with 615 votes, PDP had 393, while APGA, ADC, and NNPP trailed. In Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), APC recorded 2,520 votes, ADC 750, and PDP 115. Meanwhile, PDP gained ground in Gwagwalada with 2,019 votes against APC’s 1,779.

The elections, conducted to fill six chairmanship and 62 councillorship seats, were marred by low voter turnout and reports of vote buying. Across AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, and Kwali, many polling units saw single- or double-digit participation. In AMAC, some units recorded less than 5% turnout early in the day.

Observers, including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room and Yiaga Africa, highlighted administrative challenges, such as late commencement of voting, missing materials, and voter redistribution to new polling units without proper notice. Reports also emerged of votes being traded for cash in Gidan Mangoro ward.

The ADC criticized the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for visiting polling units during voting, calling it “direct interference” capable of intimidating voters. Wike’s aide, Lere Olayinka, defended the minister, noting his constitutional right to monitor elections as the FCT’s chief security officer.

As collation continued, INEC uploaded results to the IReV portal, showing APC’s strong performance in AMAC, while ADC and PDP won in select wards. The early trends point to a competitive council race across FCT, overshadowed by voter apathy and operational lapses.