FCT Council Polls: EFCC Arrests 20, Recovers Over N17m in Electoral Crackdown.
By Bala Salihu Dawakin Kudu
Democracy Newsline | February 22, 2026.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 20 suspects over alleged electoral offences during the just-concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT) local government elections, recovering more than ₦17 million reportedly earmarked for vote buying.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Sunday, the commission disclosed that the arrests were made on Saturday, February 21, across Abaji, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali area councils. The offences ranged from vote buying and vote selling to obstruction of electoral officers.
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The EFCC said one suspect was apprehended in Kwali with ₦13.5 million found in a vehicle parked near a polling unit. In total, ₦17,218,700 was recovered during the operation.
Breakdown of the arrests shows two suspects were picked up in Abaji, nine in Gwagwalada, four in Kuje and four in Kwali. The commission noted that investigations are ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion.
The February 21 polls, conducted across the six FCT area councils — Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal Area Council — were marred by reports of voter inducement. Observers from the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa) documented instances where voters were allegedly offered between ₦1,000 and ₦5,000 at some polling units.
Results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday indicated that the All Progressives Congress won five of the six chairmanship seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party secured one.
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, FEBRUARY 23RD 2026)
