CSO Declares 2026 FCT Elections Credible

Politics

ABUJA, NIGERIA (Agency Report): The Young People’s Initiative for Credible Leadership (YPICL) has described the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) elections as credible.

The Executive Director, Mr Abdulwahab Ekekhide, said on Friday that the elections reflected the true will of the people.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Ekekhide commended all stakeholders and emphasised that the Area Council elections served as a litmus test for the 2027 general elections, asserting optimism that voters chose leaders they trusted.

He emphasised that Nigeria’s democracy was still evolving, and it was the duty of all stakeholders, especially young leaders, to protect and strengthen the democratic process.

“From our observation with other civil society partners and independent monitors, the elections were peaceful, free, fair, transparent, and credible, with the people’s will prevailing,” he said.

Ekekhide lauded the re-election of Mr Christopher Maikalangu as Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), attributing his victory to strong grassroots connection and people-oriented leadership.

He said that Maikalangu’s deep connection to the grassroots had previously earned him victory in 2022 when he defeated the ruling party, and that it continued to endear him to voters across the council.

However, Ekekhide decried low voter turnout in the AMAC elections, blaming it on opposition leaders who often raised alarms over alleged malpractices, discouraging citizens from participating.

He urged opposition parties to trust the electoral process and used their influence to encourage, rather than dissuade, voter participation, while tasking INEC to create more awareness ahead of future elections.