The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has declared Friday a work-free day ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21.
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, also announced a restriction of movement across the territory from 8 p.m. on Friday, February 20, to 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, following approval from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a special broadcast aired on television and radio stations on Thursday, Wike urged residents to turn out en masse to vote for their preferred candidates.
“On Saturday, February 21, we will all have a crucial opportunity to shape the future of our great Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
“The election of either new or returning chairmen and councillors for the six area councils is a momentous occasion, and I urge you to come out in your numbers to exercise your right to vote.”
The minister called on voters to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly, emphasising respect for the electoral process and its outcome.
“With the approval of the President, I hereby declare Friday, February 20, 2026, as a work-free day to enable movement of residents to their various communities to participate in the elections. Similarly, the President has approved the restriction of movement within the FCT from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday,” he stated.
Crucial Polls
Residents of the FCT will elect six council chairpersons and 62 councillors across the six area councils — Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.
Security has been heightened ahead of the elections, with the FCT Police Command and other security agencies deployed across Abuja.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured residents of its preparedness under the new Electoral Act, warning that vote buying and other electoral malpractices will not be tolerated.
The elections have also been marked by political realignments, as at least two chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently withdrew from the race in support of their All Progressives Congress (APC) opponents. The candidates cited mediation efforts by Wike as influencing their decisions.
The development is considered unusual for the PDP, which governed Nigeria from 1999 to 2015, and has sparked discussion within political circles, particularly given Wike’s affiliation with a faction of the party.
