FCTDecides2026: PDP Candidate Wins Gwagwalada Area Council Election

 #FCTDecides2026: PDP Candidate Wins Gwagwalada Area Council Election

February 22, 2026

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has claimed a significant victory in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) local government elections as its candidate, Mohammed Kasim, emerged winner of the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship contest.

Kasim defeated his closest rival from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Yahaya Shehu, polling 22,165 votes to Shehu’s 17,788 votes, according to official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Other parties recorded lower scores in the election. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) secured 432 votes, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) got 175 votes, and the Young Progressives Party (YPP) obtained 158 votes. Smaller parties included Action Alliance (AA) with 116 votes, Action Democratic Party (ADP) with 128 votes, Party A with 151 votes, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), which recorded just 24 votes.

INEC Returning Officer, Philip Akpen, described the election as peaceful and orderly, noting that both voting and collation were conducted without major disruptions across the council area.

Observers view the PDP’s victory as politically significant given the ongoing internal challenges within the party at the national level, including leadership disputes, defections to the APC, and the exit of prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Gwagwalada, known for its diverse ethnic and religious composition, is often considered a microcosm of Nigeria’s broader social and political dynamics. Analysts say this result provides insight into voter sentiment ahead of future national elections, especially amid APC’s growing influence in the FCT following high-profile defections over the past year.

During his campaign, Kasim promised to focus on community welfare programs, women’s empowerment, improved healthcare services, and expanded access to education. These pledges appear to have resonated with voters, despite the relatively low turnout recorded on election day.

Across the FCT, INEC conducted polls in six area councils: Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Bwari. Voters elected both chairmanship and councillorship officials.

The Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election had 207,577 registered voters, with 46,294 voters accredited to participate. Out of the votes cast, 43,960 were valid, while 1,521 ballots were rejected.

In addition, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) recorded 1,687 votes, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 1,366 votes.

The PDP’s win in Gwagwalada underscores the party’s enduring local influence despite national challenges and positions it strategically for the upcoming general elections in the FCT.