The All Progressives Congress took an early lead in some polling units in the Federal Capital Territory area council polls on Saturday.
This is based on results uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV).
As of the time of filing this report (10:15 pm), the APC had polled 2,726 votes, while the Peoples Democratic Party had 2,104 votes, and the African Democratic Congress had 180 votes across surveyed polling units in Kwali Local Government Area of the FCT.
In Kuje Council Area the APC led with 615 votes, followed by the PDP with 393 votes. APGA had 146 votes, ADC 24 votes, and the NNPP five votes.
In Abuja Municipal Area Council, the APC recorded 2,520 votes; ADC polled 750 votes, while the PDP had 115 votes.
In Gwagwalada, results uploaded as of 10:15pm showed that the PDP had garnered 2,019 votes, the APC 1,779 votes, while the ADC recorded 115 votes.
Meanwhile, the exercise, conducted to fill six chairmanship and 62 councillorship seats, was marred by widespread voter apathy and reported vote buying.
Across Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji and Kwali, thin turnout defined much of the exercise, with some polling units recording single-digit or double-digit votes out of hundreds of registered voters.
In AMAC, turnout was particularly poor in the early hours.
At Polling Unit 006 in the City Centre Registration Area, only seven voters had cast their ballots as of 9:50 a.m., while at Kubwa Polling Unit 053, just 23 of 464 registered voters were accredited, representing less than five per cent turnout.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room said residents in parts of AMAC were seen going about their normal activities during voting hours, reflecting voter apathy.
Its Co-Convenor, Celestine Odo, noted that although queues later formed in Kuje, Kwali, Gwagwalada and Abaji, participation generally remained low.
Yiaga Africa also faulted the turnout, stating that most polling units recorded poor voter participation despite a largely peaceful atmosphere.
Its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, said administrative shortcomings, including late commencement of voting and missing materials, undermined the credibility of the exercise.
Beyond apathy, reports of vote buying surfaced in parts of AMAC.
The Situation Room alleged that votes were traded for as much as N10,000 in some polling units in Gidan Mangoro ward.
“Vote buying was observed in many polling units visited. In some places, it was openly done,” Odo said.
Operational lapses were also recorded in some centres.
At Durumi I, voting reportedly commenced around 11:00 a.m. following the late arrival of officials, while at Durumi II, some voters protested the omission of their names from the displayed register.
Yiaga Africa further cited confusion arising from the redistribution of voters to newly created polling units without adequate prior notice.
