The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during a consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja on Wednesday. He stated that the tenure of the current chairmen and councillors, elected during the last Area Council election on February 12, 2022, will end next year.
“Consequently, the commission has approved that the 2026 Area Council election in the FCT will be held on Saturday, 21st February 2026. Voting will take place in all designated polling units across the 68 constituencies to elect six Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councillors,” Yakubu announced.
In compliance with legal requirements, the notice for the election will be published on February 26, 2025. Political parties are expected to conduct primaries between June 9 and June 30, 2025. The candidate nomination portal will open on July 21, 2025, at 9:00 am, and close on August 11, 2025, at 6:00 pm.
The final list of candidates will be released on September 22, 2025, while campaigns are scheduled to commence on September 24, 2025, and end at midnight on February 19, 2026.
Yakubu assured political parties that a detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the election, along with the list of constituencies and type of elections in the FCT, would be available on the INEC website by the end of the meeting. Hard copies of the documents were also distributed to party representatives.
The INEC chairman also revealed plans for other routine activities, including the resumption of nationwide Continuous Voter Registration and the conduct of outstanding bye-elections.
Anambra Governorship Election Timeline
Regarding the Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025, Yakubu reminded political parties that primaries to nominate candidates would be held between March 20 and April 10, 2025.
He urged political parties to submit their schedules of activities for the election promptly to ensure efficient planning and resource allocation.
“So far, only a few parties have complied. I urge those that have not done so to submit the details by the end of this week,” Yakubu emphasized.
Yakubu further reiterated the importance of adhering to the electoral timetable to avoid last-minute rushes and ensure smooth election processes.
For more information, stakeholders were directed to visit the commission’s website at www.inecnigeria.org.
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