News, Politics

APC Cries Foul in FCT Election, Seeks Cancellation of PDP Victory

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 19th, 2026.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its chairmanship candidate, Yahaya Usman, have approached the election tribunal to challenge the outcome of the February 21, 2026, Gwagwalada Area Council poll in the Federal Capital Territory.

The petition, filed before the FCT Area Council Election Petition Tribunal, contests the declaration of Mohammed Kasim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Kasim was earlier returned elected with 22,165 votes, ahead of Usman, who secured 17,788 votes.

According to documents obtained by The Punch, the APC is seeking the nullification of the election on grounds of alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, widespread irregularities, and claims that the PDP candidate did not secure the majority of lawful votes cast.

The petitioners alleged that the election, conducted across 10 wards and 338 polling units, was riddled with irregularities involving electoral officials. They claimed that results in several polling units were tampered with, including alterations, cancellations, and manipulation of figures to conceal over-voting.

Specifically, the APC pointed to irregularities in polling units located in Kutunku, Ibwa, Tungan Maje, and Ikwa wards, where result sheets were allegedly modified to align with accredited voter figures. According to The Guardian Nigeria, the petition also cited cases of erased and rewritten entries on official result forms, raising concerns about the integrity of the collation process.

The party further alleged that in some polling units, votes recorded for its candidate were deliberately reduced during collation. It also identified over 100 polling units where it claimed there was substantial non-compliance with electoral guidelines, alongside dozens of others where improper voter accreditation reportedly took place.

In addition, the petition highlighted instances of over-voting in multiple polling units, arguing that votes recorded exceeded the number of accredited voters. The APC maintained that thousands of votes from both parties should be voided due to these discrepancies.

After recalculating the figures based on its claims, the party argued that the margin between the two leading candidates falls below the number of registered voters in the affected areas, thereby justifying the cancellation of the election. As reported by Daily Times Nigeria, the petitioners are urging the tribunal to either nullify the results entirely or determine the rightful winner in line with electoral laws.

The development has added a fresh twist to the political landscape in the FCT, with analysts noting that the outcome of the legal battle could have wider implications for electoral disputes in area council elections. According to The Nation Newspaper, stakeholders are closely watching the case as it unfolds, given its potential to shape future interpretations of electoral compliance and result collation procedures.

With proceedings expected to commence soon, attention now turns to the tribunal, which will determine the validity of the claims and the fate of the contested Gwagwalada chairmanship seat.