• Super Admin
• 08 Mar, 2026

ABUJA - The conduct of the recent Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has raised fresh concerns over the credibility of grassroots electoral process while casting doubts over the survival of democracy in Nigeria, especially when the FCT polls where conducted under a new umpire from whom some improvements were expected. Essentially, the unsatisfactory process that was witnessed largely dampened the hope of many Nigerians who saw the FCT exercise as a hint of what to expect in 2027. The elections, held on February 21 and conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), exposed recurring challenges, including low voter turnout, operational difficulties, and concerns about the broader structure of local government elections in Nigeria. Political analysts, civil society actors and other stakeholders who spoke with Sunday Independent, noted that although the polls were limited to the six Area Councils in Abuja, they remain an important barometer for measuring the current strength of Nigeria's electoral institutions and the health of democratic governance at the grassroots. Observers warn that patterns such as voter apathy and weak enforcement of electoral laws witnessed during the FCT elections could threaten the credibility of future elections if appropriate reforms are not implemented. Speaking with Sunday Independent, Festus Okoye, Former Director of Information and Voter Education, explained that Nigeria's constitutional framework distinguishes between local government elections conducted by State Independent Electoral Commissions and Area Council elections in the FCT. According to him, while State Independent Electoral Commissions conduct elections for chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors across the 36 states, elections into the six Area Councils in Abuja fall under the authority of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Okoye explained that Section 197 of the Constitution recognises State Independent Electoral Commissions as executive bodies responsible for conducting local government elections within their respective states. However, he noted that these bodies still rely heavily on institutional frameworks established by the national electoral body. "The voter register compiled by the Commission, the polling units established, and the regulations issued by the Commission are what are used in elections into Area Councils or the recall of members," he said. He added that the Electoral Act 2026 attempts to harmonise procedures by providing that the standards applied in the conduct of Area Council elections in the FCT should guide local government elections conducted by state electoral commissions. Despite the legal framework guiding grassroots elections, analysts say the credibility of local government polls across the country has continued to suffer remarkably. Okeyo noted that in many states, local government elections are widely perceived as predetermined outcomes in which the ruling party in the state wins virtually all available seats. He said: "The conduct of elections by local governments has been problematic and largely undemocratic. In most cases, the party of the incumbent governor wins all the chairmanship and councillorship positions, which suggests that State Independent Electoral Commissions often operate as extensions of state governments." This recurring pattern, observers say, has raised serious questions about the independence of these electoral bodies and their ability to function as neutral arbiters in electoral contests. Another issue that has generated concern is the continued appointment of caretaker committees or sole administrators to manage local government councils in some states. Okeyo argued that such practices undermine the constitutional requirement for democratically elected local governments. He pointed out that Section 7 of the Constitution guarantees a system of local government run by democratically elected officials, warning that prolonged caretaker arrangements are inconsistent with the spirit of that provision. According to him, some state governments have created alternative administrative structures such as interim councils or community government arrangements to bypass the obligation to conduct elections. Analysts say such practices weaken democratic growth and deny citizens the opportunity to choose their local representatives. Also speaking with Sunday Independent, the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Mr. Ibrahim Rafsanjani, said institutional lapses and political interference remain major obstacles to credible local government elections. According to him, the structural vulnerability of State Independent Electoral Commissions makes them susceptible to influence from state governments. "It is a significant institutional lapse when state governments continue to use state agencies and party supporters to win elections in their favour," Rafsanjani said. He also cited incidents involving security agencies during elections, alleging that intimidation and disruptions occurred in some areas during the FCT polls. "In Kuje Area Council, police reportedly fired teargas at voters, which created an opportunity for ballot box snatching," he alleged. Rafsanjani warned that continued interference by political authorities could further deepen public distrust in democratic institutions. Another concern raised by analysts is the weak enforcement of electoral laws. Rafsanjani noted that although the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission occasionally arrests individuals suspected of vote buying or electoral misconduct, successful prosecutions remain rare. "For several elections, we see arrests of vote traders, yet we rarely hear about successful prosecutions. That weakens deterrence and encourages repeat offences," he said. He also criticised the role of state-owned media organisations, which he said often provide disproportionate coverage to ruling parties during election periods. Perhaps the most worrying development observed during the recent FCT elections was the extremely low voter turnout recorded in several polling areas. Rafsanjani described turnout figures ranging between seven and 15 per cent in some Area Councils as deeply troubling for a democracy. "The turnout shows that Nigerians are unhappy with the trajectory of our democracy," he said. "The younger generation is gradually disengaging from the electoral process and from democracy itself." Analysts warn that voter apathy could become even more pronounced ahead of the 2027 general elections if confidence in the electoral system is not restored. Former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Mr. Anthony Sani, said the FCT Area Council elections also demonstrated the potential benefits of combining electronic transmission of results with manual backup procedures. "The recent Area Council elections in the FCT put to test the wisdom of electronic transmission of results with manual transfer as backup in case of network glitches," Sani said. "As expected, the two types of transfer of results were used without substantial irregularity, and that may explain the relative success recorded in the elections conducted at that level." He added that the experience suggests that properly implemented technological reforms could strengthen transparency and public confidence in elections. Sani also supported growing calls for transferring the responsibility for conducting local government elections from state electoral commissions to the Independent National Electoral Commission. According to him, undue interference by state governors through state electoral commissions has undermined the credibility of grassroots elections across the country. "Because of the interference by governors through state electoral commissions, many Nigerians have called for replacing them with the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct local government elections," he said. Also speaking with Sunday Independent, former presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tariola Oliver, said some proposed electoral reforms may not take effect before the 2027 elections due to timing constraints. "To be honest, I had anticipated that implementation of some reforms might not be feasible for the next election cycle, given the timing," Oliver said. "With the legislative and administrative processes required, some reforms may realistically take effect in a later electoral cycle." Observers say rebuilding public trust in Nigeria's electoral system will require stronger political commitment and sustained institutional reforms. Among the recommendations put forward by experts is the urgent passage of the Electoral Offences Bill, which seeks to establish a dedicated commission to investigate and prosecute electoral crimes. With the 2027 general elections approaching, analysts warn that addressing the weaknesses exposed by the recent FCT Area Council poll may be critical to restoring confidence in Nigeria's electoral system and safeguarding the credibility of the country's democracy. Source: https://independent.ng/2027-how-fct-council-election-dampened-democratic-hopes/