FCT Council Polls: Ward Collation Remains Weakest Link in Nigeria’s Electoral Process — Yiaga Africa

 

Yiaga Africa has raised fresh concerns over intimidation, logistical setbacks and disruptions that marred the ward-level collation of results in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections.

The civil society organisation said the incidents further underscored the vulnerability of ward-level collation, describing it as the most fragile stage of Nigeria’s electoral process.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, and Director of Programmes, Cynthia Mbamalu, the group said its findings were based on reports from observers deployed to 58 out of 62 ward collation centres across the FCT.

Yiaga disclosed that ward collation commenced between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. in 66 per cent of the centres observed, while an additional 10 per cent began between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Three per cent started between 9:00 p.m. and midnight.

However, in Kuje Central and Kabi wards of Kuje Area Council, collation reportedly did not begin until the following morning.

According to the organisation, delays were largely caused by late arrival of materials from polling units, absence of officials at designated times, transportation challenges involving sensitive materials, and reported intimidation of electoral officers by political thugs.

Yiaga noted that 80 per cent of the centres publicly displayed the Notice of Results poster (Form EC60E) for chairmanship elections.

It further stated that party agents were invited to countersign result forms in 95 per cent of the centres. Compliance levels varied across political parties, with agents of the ADC present in 88 per cent of centres, APC in 93 per cent, PDP in 91 per cent, and SDP in 59 per cent.

The group also reported incidents of unrest and violence in some areas.

“At the Zuba Ward Collation Centre in Gwagwalada, a disturbance broke out shortly after polling unit results were collated. An exchange between a party agent and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission escalated tensions, prompting security agents to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd,” the statement said.

In Ashara Ward, Kwali Area Council, some community members rejected the announced results, leading to unrest and the vandalisation of two vehicles reportedly belonging to the electoral body.

Similarly, in Kuje Central, suspected political thugs allegedly disrupted proceedings, removed result sheets and forced officials to relocate the collation exercise.

Yiaga commended officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who continued the collation process despite reported intimidation, as well as citizens who upheld electoral procedures.

The organisation observed that although the Electoral Act 2026 mandates electronic transmission of results through INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV), temporary downtime during uploads generated public suspicion.

“As of 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, 2,641 chairmanship results and 2,542 councillorship results out of 2,822 polling units had been uploaded to the IReV portal, representing approximately 94 per cent and 90 per cent upload rates respectively,” it stated.

Looking ahead, Yiaga urged INEC to improve deployment planning, logistics management, voter communication and collation procedures in preparation for forthcoming elections, including the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls and the 2027 general elections.

It also called on security agencies to investigate alleged collusion with political thugs and ensure that perpetrators of violence are prosecuted.

The organisation further advised political parties to adequately train their agents on electoral laws, refrain from deploying thugs around collation centres, and intensify voter mobilisation and civic education efforts.

“The 2026 FCT local government elections reaffirm that ward-level collation remains the most vulnerable and consequential stage of Nigeria’s electoral process,” Yiaga stated.