APC Sweeps FCT Councils in Landslide Victory as PDP Clings to Gwagwalada

The political landscape of Nigeria’s capital territory shifted decisively over the weekend as the All Progressives Congress secured a commanding victory in the 2026 Area Council elections across the Federal Capital Territory, winning five of the six chairmanship seats contested and consolidating its grassroots dominance in the nation’s administrative heart. The opposition Peoples Democratic Party managed to retain only Gwagwalada Area Council, preventing a complete sweep but underscoring the ruling party’s growing influence at the local government level within Abuja and its satellite communities.

Official results released by the Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday confirmed the outcome after collation from polling units across the six area councils. The APC emerged victorious in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Bwari, Kwali and Kuje, while the PDP candidate in Gwagwalada triumphed in what analysts described as the most competitive contest of the election cycle.

In Gwagwalada, Mohammed Kasim of the PDP secured 22,165 votes to defeat APC challenger Yahaya Shehu, who polled 17,788 votes. Returning Officer Philip Akpen, while announcing the result before party agents and observers, declared that the PDP candidate had satisfied all legal requirements and was duly elected chairman. The council, regarded as politically strategic because of its population growth and semi-urban character, became the sole bright spot for the opposition amid an otherwise challenging election for the party in the territory.

Observers noted that Gwagwalada’s outcome reflected local dynamics and the PDP’s enduring grassroots structures in certain communities. Party loyalists celebrated the win as proof that the PDP still maintains electoral relevance in parts of the capital region despite the APC’s overarching dominance. However, the narrow spread between the two major parties in the council compared to other areas underscored the broader trend: the ruling party has significantly expanded its reach across the FCT in recent years.

Elsewhere, the APC recorded convincing victories, beginning with Bwari Area Council, where its candidate Joshua Ishaku polled 18,466 votes. Returning Officer Mohammed Nurudeen formally declared him winner after confirming that he met statutory requirements. Ishaku’s margin over his closest rival from the ADC, who secured 4,254 votes, illustrated the scale of APC’s advantage in the council, long considered competitive but increasingly leaning toward the ruling party in successive local elections.

The largest vote tally came from Abuja Municipal Area Council, the territory’s most populous and politically visible council encompassing much of metropolitan Abuja. Incumbent chairman Christopher Maikalangu of the APC was re-elected with 40,295 votes, far ahead of opponents across multiple parties. Analysts said the result demonstrated both incumbency advantage and the APC’s organizational strength in urban wards, where voter turnout was reportedly higher than in previous council polls. Maikalangu’s victory also marked continuity in AMAC governance, reinforcing the APC’s hold over the administrative and commercial center of the capital territory.

In Abaji, APC candidate Umar Abdullahi Abubakar secured 15,536 votes against the PDP’s 4,547 votes, producing one of the widest margins in the election. Party officials attributed the win to grassroots mobilization, rural outreach programs and perceived performance by outgoing APC leadership in the council. The result extended the party’s streak of dominance in Abaji, where it has steadily entrenched its presence across wards.

Kwali delivered another comfortable APC victory, with candidate Nuhu Daniel polling 17,032 votes to defeat PDP challenger Haruna Pai, who obtained 8,575 votes. The margin, though smaller than in Abaji, still reflected clear voter preference for the ruling party. Political watchers described Kwali as emblematic of the APC’s broader consolidation strategy in semi-rural councils, where infrastructural promises and alignment with federal authority have boosted its appeal among voters.

The closest APC win came in Kuje, where Danjuma Shekwolo polled 17,269 votes, edging PDP candidate who garnered 15,824 votes. Despite the tighter margin, the victory carried symbolic significance: Kuje has historically swung between major parties, making it a bellwether council in FCT politics. APC supporters celebrated the outcome as evidence of the party’s ability to capture competitive territories once considered opposition strongholds.

With five councils secured, the APC has effectively strengthened its grassroots leadership network across the FCT, positioning itself advantageously ahead of future electoral cycles, including the 2027 general elections. Political strategists argue that control of area councils provides both administrative leverage and voter mobilization structures that can shape outcomes in higher-level contests. The result also reinforces the party’s narrative of expanding acceptance in the capital region, traditionally viewed as politically mixed.

For the PDP, the outcome presented a mixed picture: while the party retained Gwagwalada and demonstrated continued relevance in pockets of the territory, the loss of five councils highlighted organizational challenges and declining influence in Abuja’s local politics. Party insiders acknowledged the need for structural rebuilding and stronger grassroots engagement to regain lost ground. Some PDP figures nonetheless framed the Gwagwalada victory as a foundation for recovery, emphasizing that electoral competition remains alive in the FCT.

The elections themselves were largely peaceful, according to observers and electoral officials, with voting conducted across wards under security presence. Voter turnout varied by council, with urban centers such as AMAC reporting relatively higher participation compared to more rural areas. The commission commended stakeholders for orderly conduct, noting that the credibility of local elections contributes to democratic stability at the grassroots level.

Political analysts view the results within the broader context of Nigeria’s evolving local governance dynamics. Area councils in the FCT function similarly to local government authorities in states, overseeing community development, primary education, health services and market administration. Control of these councils therefore carries tangible governance implications beyond symbolic political victories. The APC’s dominance means the party will shape policy implementation and local administration across most of the capital territory for the next term.

The outcome may also influence national political discourse, particularly debates around party strength in urban versus rural constituencies. Abuja, though geographically compact, contains diverse demographics ranging from cosmopolitan urban districts to agrarian communities. The APC’s success across this spectrum suggests expanding cross-demographic appeal, while the PDP’s retention of Gwagwalada points to localized loyalty patterns that could be leveraged in future contests.

As celebrations and reactions continued among party supporters, attention shifted toward governance expectations. Residents across the councils voiced hopes that newly elected chairmen would prioritize infrastructure, sanitation, education and economic opportunities. Civil society groups called for transparency and accountability, stressing that electoral victory must translate into improved service delivery for communities.

For now, the political verdict of the FCT electorate is clear: the ruling APC has emerged as the dominant force in Abuja’s grassroots politics, while the PDP maintains a foothold through Gwagwalada. The balance of power established by the 2026 Area Council elections is likely to shape both local administration and the broader political trajectory of Nigeria’s capital territory in the years ahead.