The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced February 21, 2026, as the date for elections into the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
This decision was disclosed during the first regular consultative meeting with political party leaders held at the INEC conference center in Abuja.
According to INEC, the FCT is the only part of the country where the commission conducts local government elections.
The upcoming election will determine the next set of Chairmen and Councillors for the six area councils and 68 constituencies.
The commission highlighted the legal requirement under Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the issuance of election notices at least 360 days before the election date.
As a result, the official notice for the FCT council elections will be published on February 26, 2025. Party primaries are scheduled to take place between June 9 and June 30, 2025.
The tenure of the current Chairmen and Councillors, who were elected in the last Area Council election held on February 12, 2022, is set to expire next year.
INEC also revealed plans to resume the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and address pending bye-elections.
Since the inauguration of the current National and State Assemblies in June 2023, vacancies have occurred in 23 constituencies due to deaths or voluntary resignations.
The commission has conducted nine bye-elections so far, but 14 more vacancies have arisen. INEC described these bye-elections as unpredictable, unbudgeted, and challenging to plan.
In some cases, a single bye-election has triggered further elections, creating additional costs and diverting the commission’s focus from other critical responsibilities.
Over the past nine years, INEC has advocated for more cost-effective alternatives to filling vacancies, aligning with practices in other countries.
The commission reiterated this position during its 2025 budget defense before the National Assembly. INEC urged political parties, stakeholders, and legislators to collaborate in amending the electoral law to streamline the process.
The commission expressed optimism that collective efforts would lead to continuous improvements and reforms in the electoral process.
