#FCTDecides2026: Residents indifferent as election commences

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As the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) electorate filed out to vote for their representatives at the six area councils in the FCT, most residents, especially in the city centre, remained indifferent to the exercise, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

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NAN recalls that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had on Friday declared a work-free day and announced a 22-hour restriction of movement ahead of the elections.

In a special broadcast on Thursday, Mr Wike said movement within the FCT would be restricted from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

NAN, however, observed unrestricted movement of vehicles, transporters and commuters within the FCT, especially within Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) through Airport Road to Gwagwalada.

Some of the residents, who spoke with NAN, claimed they were not aware of the election in the FCT’s six area councils, which include: Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.

The situation was, however, different in the Kwali and Abaji Area Councils, where there was relative compliance with the minister’s directive, as stores remained locked and voters were seen at different polling units.

At the Pilot Science Nursery and Primary School in Kwali Area Council, with a cluster of polling units, INEC officials were on the ground as early as 7.00 a.m. with election materials.

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Peace Esan, one of the officials who spoke with NAN, said they slept at the polling centre under the watch of security personnel to avoid arriving late, adding that voters’ accreditation started at 8.30 a.m.

READ ALSO: #FCTDecides2026: Low voter turnout characterises exercise in Bwari, Kuje

Some voters were also seen on queue waiting to cast their votes for their preferred candidates after confirming their names on the displayed voters’ register.

NAN reports that the elections are being conducted in a total of 2,822 polling units across 62 wards in the six area councils of the FCT.

(NAN)