FCT Polls: PDP, YPP Allege Vote Buying In Gwagwalada Area Council

FCT Polls: PDP, YPP allege vote buying in Gwagwalada area council. Mr Abdul alleged that officials were tearing ballot papers from the bottom rather than from the top.

Polling unit [Credit: X]
Some party agents have alleged vote buying in ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections in some parts of Gwagwalada Area Council.

The party agents, representing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Young Progressives Party (YPP), made the allegation at Better Life, UBE and Kotangora polling units in Gwagwalada area.

They also claimed that INEC officials were not issuing the ballot papers in serial order during accreditation and voting.

The YPP agent, Momoh Abdul, particularly criticised the conduct of INEC officials, describing their handling of ballot papers as improper.

Mr Abdul alleged that officials were tearing ballot papers from the bottom rather than from the top.

“The INEC officials are not issuing the ballot papers serially. Rather, they are tearing it from the end of the ballot booklet, and this is suspicious,” Mr Abdul said.

He further claimed that votes were being bought for amounts ranging from N500 to N3,000, depending on negotiation between party representatives and voters.

Similarly, the PDP agent, Yahaya Umar, said that vote buying could undermine the credibility of the process.

However, the APC agent, Hamidu Gimba, denied the allegations, stating that no vote buying was taking place at the polling unit.

Mr Gimba said that he had been present throughout the exercise and had not witnessed any incident of voting buying.

Meanwhile, the Presiding Officer at polling unit 002 in Gwagwalada area council, Francis Ihyomna, denied the allegation of not issuing ballot papers serially, stressing that nothing of such was happening.

“I have been issuing the ballot paper serially to voters. We just started with ballot paper one and that is the one we are still using.

FCT Polls

“We have not even skipped any number and had yet to record any incident of rejected paper,” Mr Ihyomna said.

The presiding officer also confirmed the incident of missing names in the voter register.

Mr Ihyomna described the issue as a slight omission, noting that the name of one voter identified as Aisha was missing from the register but was later found in another polling unit.

Earlier, the YPP agent had told reporters that some voters’ names were missing in the INEC register.

Ondo: ICPC Join Forces To Fortify Local Governance With Accountability Drive

Ondo: ICPC join forces to fortify local governance with accountability drive. In a significant move to strengthen grassroots administration, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in partnership with the Ondo State Government recently conducted a three-day capacity-building workshop designed to enhance fiscal discipline and boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) across the state’s 18 local government areas.

The workshop convened 226 participants, a diverse group comprising Local Government Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Heads of Departments, and senior administrative officers. The primary objective is to equip these political officeholders and officials with the practical skills and knowledge required to navigate the complexities of public financial management effectively.

Speaking on behalf of the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, the Commission’s Head of Constituency Project Tracking and Local Government Initiative, Bello Idris Bakori, outlined the framework of the engagement, further explaining that the workshop is a central component of the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments (ACPP-LG). This initiative is meticulously designed to provide councils with robust tools to fortify internal controls, improve transparency, and integrate ethical procedures into the core of local government administration.

“This workshop is not just an academic exercise,” Mr. Bakori stated. “It marks the commencement of a transformative process aimed at converting knowledge into tangible reforms and embedding sustainable governance practices.”

The workshop was formally inaugurated by the Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. Represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Alhaji Amidu Takuro, the Governor underscored the administration’s commitment to probity.

He emphasised that transparency, unwavering fiscal discipline, and a high degree of professionalism are non-negotiable principles in the management of local government resources, which are vital for community development.

The first day engaged participants in intensive technical sessions covering best practices in financial reporting, strategies for strengthening internal audit and control mechanisms, and the critical role of effective asset management in ensuring accountability and improving service delivery.

Ondo

The comprehensive programme continues with in-depth sessions on procurement controls, fraud risk assessment, tax reforms for revenue optimisation, strategic budgeting, and upholding ethical standards.

The workshop will culminate with a dedicated session on the legal provisions of the ICPC Act, 2000. Upon successful completion of the programme, participants will be awarded certificates.

Signed
J. Okor Odey, Anipr
Spokesperson for the Commission

INEC Expresses Satisfaction With Smooth Accreditation, Voter Turnout: FCT Polls

INEC expresses satisfaction with smooth accreditation, voter turnout: FCT Polls. He praised the calm atmosphere and the conduct of both voters and security personnel.

News Agency of Nigeria • February 21, 2026
Joash Amupitan
Joash Amupitan [Credit: Punch Newspaper]
Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections, describing the process as orderly, efficient and peaceful.

Mr Amupitan made this known on Saturday in Abuja while speaking with journalists after monitoring the process at few polling units within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

Mr Amupitan maintained that the performance of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the level of voter turnout were positive indicators for the country’s democratic process.

He highlighted the speed of the accreditation process, noting that the BVAS technology had significantly reduced waiting times for voters.

“You can see by yourself that the election is orderly and very efficient. The election is peaceful and those are the indices of a good election.

“So far, the efficiency of the BVAS is high and I am very satisfied because the BVAS are working effectively and efficiently.

“From what I have seen and heard from the presiding officers, it takes about less than five seconds to even accredit a voter.

“So far, I can say that the election is well organised. The election is peaceful from the calm atmosphere you have seen,” Mr Amupitan said.

He commended the turnout of voters, attributing it to an increased awareness among citizens regarding the importance of participating in the electoral process.

He also praised the calm atmosphere and the conduct of both voters and security personnel.

“You can see a lot of people here and they are conducting themselves well. I learned that there are 30 security personnel that are present here.

“They are also conducting their affairs in an orderly manner. So, we hope that at the close of the poll, we will have a very successful election,” he said.

Addressing a question regarding an incident involving the harassment of a journalist by security personnel, Mr Amupitan said that INEC remained committed to the safety of all accredited personnel.

“I am only aware that there was one journalist that was arrested and immediately we intervened.

“The Chief Press Secretary and some people spoke to the police and the person was immediately released unmolested.

“We have taken every measure to ensure that nobody is molested. Accredited journalists and observers are granted access to the places they are supposed to be. We have not withdrawn any accreditation,” he said.

The INEC boss, however, acknowledged minor hiccups in certain areas, especially the delay in arrival of election materials and ad hoc officials in few polling units, noting that INEC was on top of the situation.

He said that as at 10:30 a.m., 99 per cent of polling units across the FCT had successfully opened and that the commission was monitoring the situation in real-time from the situation room to ensure all eligible voters were attended to.

INEC

Mr Amupitan pledged that the commission would not only ensure that the votes of Nigerians count in the FCT election, but would ensure further improvements, moving forward to the 2027 general elections.

“The voices of Nigerians will be held this time around. The BVAS, as far as I am concerned, is working very well.”

Some of the polling units visited by Amupitan included: PU 016, Area 8, Garki, AMAC, PU 005 LGEA Primary school Garki Village, PUs 001 and 002, 052, Junior Secondary School, Area 1, 007 National Library, Area 2, Garki, AMAC.

The chairman also visited the INEC FCT office, where the deployment of election result collation officers was ongoing.