Observers Report Vote Buying in AMAC as FCT Elections Experience Delays

Abuja – Observers from the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room have raised concerns over incidents of vote buying and delayed commencement of voting in parts of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) during the ongoing 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.

Addressing journalists on Saturday, a co-convenor of the group, Celestine Odo, said that while the elections were largely peaceful, reports from the group’s observer network indicated that many polling units opened late.

“Across the FCT, our observers reported a relatively late opening of polls, with many units starting around 9:15 a.m. due to delays in the arrival of election officials and materials,” Odo said. He noted, however, that some areas, including Kwali Area Council, experienced timely voting with no reported delays.

Beyond the late openings, the Situation Room expressed serious concern over vote buying, particularly in AMAC, where voters were allegedly selling their votes for up to ₦10,000. “In several polling units in Gidan Mangoro Ward, including Units 008, 056, 057, and 058, votes were reportedly traded openly for cash,” Odo added.

He noted that similar inducements were observed discreetly in other areas. Voter turnout was initially low in AMAC, with many residents reportedly attending to personal activities rather than voting.

However, turnout improved later in the day, especially in Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada, and Abaji Area Councils, where long queues formed at polling units. Some voters, he said, faced difficulties locating their units following last-minute relocations notified via text messages from INEC.

On the accreditation process, Odo reported that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned efficiently in most locations, with an average of one minute per voter, though two cases of malfunction were recorded in Gwako and Navy Town, City Centre.

The Situation Room also commended the visible presence of security personnel from the Police, Civil Defence, Immigration, and Fire Service.

“Security officers were professional and courteous, though isolated incidents of intimidation were reported in areas including Rubochi, Rimba/Ebagi, and Gwako,” Odo said, citing an instance where a voter carrying a cutlass was quickly apprehended.

Despite these challenges, Odo praised the INEC FCT Help Desk for responding promptly to issues raised by observers and urged stakeholders to maintain calm as voting concludes and collation begins.

The 2026 FCT Area Council elections feature 637 candidates from 17 political parties contesting 68 positions, including 62 councillorship seats and six area council chairmanships, with 1,680,315 registered voters expected to participate.