FCT area council election 2026: 637 candidates to contest 68 seats

FCT Area Council Election 2026 will see 637 candidates from 17 parties contesting 68 seats, INEC confirms, with polls set for February 21, 2026

FCT Area Council Election 2026 will feature 637 candidates vying for 68 seats, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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The positions include six chairmanship and 62 councillorship seats across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed the figure in a statement on Thursday.

Seventeen political parties submitted nominations before the 6:00 p.m. deadline on August 11, 2025.

In compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, INEC will publish the personal particulars of all candidates on August 18, 2025.

The documents, submitted via Form EC9, will include academic credentials and other relevant materials. They will be displayed at INEC offices in all six area councils for public scrutiny.

Olumekun encouraged Nigerians to review the documents carefully. He noted that any aspirant with evidence of false information in a candidate’s submission can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court, as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The final list of candidates for the FCT Area Council Election 2026 will be released on September 22, 2025 at least 150 days before the election date in accordance with Section 32(1) of the law.