The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced February 21, 2026, as the date for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
This declaration was made by INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, during a consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja.
Yakubu explained that elections would be conducted across all designated polling units in the FCT’s 68 constituencies to select six Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councilors. He noted that the tenure of the current officials would conclude next year, necessitating the timely preparation for the polls.
The last FCT Area Council elections were held on February 12, 2022.
“In line with our schedule, the commission has approved Saturday, February 21, 2026, for the conduct of the FCT Area Council elections. Voting will take place in all designated polling units to elect six Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councilors,” Yakubu stated.
To ensure compliance with legal requirements, INEC plans to release the official election notice on February 26, 2025. According to the chairman, party primaries will occur between June 9 and June 30, 2025, while the portal for candidate nominations will open at 9:00 a.m. on July 21, 2025, and close at 6:00 p.m. on August 11, 2025.
The final list of candidates will be published on September 22, 2025. Campaign activities will officially commence on September 24, 2025, and end at midnight on February 19, 2026.
Yakubu emphasized, “The detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the election, alongside the list of constituencies and types of elections in the FCT, will be uploaded to our website by the end of this meeting. Additionally, hard copies of these documents have been provided in your folders. For your guidance, we’ve included printed versions of the 2022 regulations and guidelines for political parties, which are also available in soft copy on our website.”
He added that INEC is also planning other key activities, including the nationwide resumption of Continuous Voter Registration and the conduct of pending bye-elections.
Updates on Anambra Governorship Election
Regarding the Anambra State Governorship Election scheduled for November 8, 2025, Yakubu disclosed that the next phase of preparation involves the conduct of party primaries.
“Primaries for the nomination of candidates for the Anambra Governorship election are set to take place between March 20 and April 10, 2025,” he announced.
Yakubu reminded political parties to promptly submit their schedules for the primaries and related activities. He emphasized that early submission would enable INEC to efficiently allocate personnel and resources for monitoring party activities, avoiding last-minute challenges.
“So far, only a few parties have complied with this directive. I strongly urge others to submit their schedules by the end of this week,” he said.
INEC has reiterated its commitment to conducting transparent, credible, and timely elections, ensuring that all stakeholders play their roles effectively.
