FCT Election Drama: APC Takes PDP To Court Over Gwagwalada Results

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Yahaya Usman, have formally challenged the outcome of the chairmanship election in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), held on February 21, 2026. According to reports, the election spanned 10 wards and 338 polling units.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mohammed Kasim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner, having secured 22,165 votes, while Usman polled 17,788 votes. Dissatisfied with the result, the APC and its candidate filed a petition before the FCT Election Petition Tribunal under case number FCT/ACEPT/EP/02/2026, seeking to overturn the declaration.

In the petition, the APC alleged that the election was marred by irregularities and did not adhere to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. The party claimed that results in several polling units across Kutunku, Ibwa, Tungan Maje, and Ikwa wards were altered to match accredited voter figures, and that entries on result sheets were tampered with. They also cited cancellations and changes in certain polling units, as well as reductions in votes for their candidate during collation.

The petition further highlighted failures in voter accreditation in 71 polling units across six wards, while votes from these units were still counted. Cases of over-voting were reportedly recorded in 31 polling units, where the number of votes exceeded the number of accredited voters. The APC argued that, after discounting the disputed figures, it would have 16,499 valid votes against 18,929 for the PDP candidate, narrowing the margin and calling the declared result into question.

The APC and Usman have requested the tribunal to annul the election result and determine the lawful winner in accordance with the Electoral Act.