Political activity is increasing in the Federal Capital Territory as 16 parties prepare to contest chairmanship and vice chairmanship positions in the six area councils ahead of the February 21, 2026, elections.

Data from the INEC website shows that 65 chairmanship candidates and their deputies will contest in the upcoming chairmanship election across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory.

Among the 65 chairmanship candidates, 3 (4.6%) are women, while 12 (15.4%) of the vice chairmanship candidates are women.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), via its National Commissioner and Chair of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, announced that electoral campaigns had begun in the area councils.

“Political parties participating in the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election are now at liberty to start their electioneering campaigns in public from Wednesday, 24th September 2025 and end at midnight on Thursday, 19th February 2026,’’ he said.

The political parties that will be participating in the elections are: Action Alliance (AA), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allied People’s Movement (APM), Action People’s Party (APP),Boot Party (BP).

Also, we have the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), People’s Democratic Party (PDP), People’s Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Action Alliance Party (A).

Abaji Area Council

For the 2026 chairmanship election in Abaji Area Council, there are seven candidates for the chairmanship position (six male and one female) and seven candidates for vice chairmanship (five male and two female).

The Chairmanship aspirants are: Anumnu Leader Abigail (A), Samuel Danjuma (ADP), Mohammed Ibrahim (ADC), Umar Abubakar Abdullahi (APC), Aminu Sadiq (NNPP), Sokodabo Musa Bilyaminu (PDP), and Loko Mohammed Angulu (YPP).

Vice Chairmen: Luka Carlos Bukky, Olaolu Adewunmi, Chidawa Juma Ruth, Makkah Isah Yakubu, Musa Mohammed, Abdulkadir Mohammed, and Gana Mamma Adamu.

AMAC Area Council

There are 16 candidates for chairmanship (15 men, 1 woman) and 16 for vice chairmanship (12 men, 4 women) in the area council.

Agbon Akanimoh Vaniah (A), Nemieboka Godson (AA), Paul Moses Odidi (ADC), Richard Elizabeth (ADP), Zakka Christopher (APC), Eze Onyebuchi Chukwu (APGA), Chukwu Promise Obumneme (APM), Ugoh Toochi Micheal (APP), Muhammed Kabir Umar (BP), Jibrin Alhassan (NNPP), Samson Usseini (NRM), Dantani Zadna (PDP), Iber Stephen Shimakaha (PRP), Simon Obinna (SDP), Madaki Robert (YPP), and Swani Buba (ZLP) are candidates contesting for the chairmanship seat.

The candidates for vice chairmanship are: Usman Nurudeen, Babawa Philip Abmidanyadu, Nebo Nneka Emmanuela, Alphonsus Christopher, Mohammed Yusuf Nadabo, Jibril Hussaina, Abudullahi Muhammed, Thomas Happiness, Abubakar Umar, Ezeudeogu Chukwunonso, Musa Samson, Idris Abduljalal, Ademola Nimatuallahi, Jogo Georgina Ngufan, Yakubu Mustapha, and Okeke Basil Chukwunonso.

Bwari Area Council

Within the Bwari Area Council, there are 11 candidates contesting for the position of chairman (all male), and 11 candidates seeking the role of vice chairman, of whom 9 are male and 2 are female.

The following individuals are listed: Nwosu Micheal Chuks (A), Adamu Wilson (AA), Musa Josiah Abinlo (ADC), Audu Aliyu (ADP), Haruna Shekwolo Audi (APC), Ekee Aloysius Izuchukwu (APGA), Galadima, Salisu Shuaibu (NNPP), Akogwu Frances Michael (NRM), Adamu Julius (PDP), Abubakar Abdullahi (SDP), and Danjuma Solomon Garda (ZLP).

The following individuals are candidates for the position of vice chairman: Idris Yusuf Ibrahim, Bukhari Daudu Musa, Ozor Godwin Onyebuchi, Nnaji Felix, Musa Mohammed Hassan, Musa Suleiman, Moses Victoria, Gabriel Osiluameh, Usman Danjuma, Nwokocha Hope, and Ani Nnamdi Justus.

Gwagwalada Area Council

Gwagwalada Area Council has 11 male chairmanship aspirants and 11 vice chairmanship candidates (10 male, 1 female).

Chairmen: Ezeh Chinedu Lawrence (A); Shehu Attahiru Ibrahim (YPP); Bala Gano Haladu Khalid (SDP); Mohammed Kasim (PDP); Dada Mohammed Wunmi (NNPP); Dahiru Hudu (APM); Biko Ezekiel Umar (APGA); Yahaya Usman Shehu (APC); Shanabo Abubakar (ADP) ; Danjuma Iko Afanyibada (ADC); Osakue Christopher (AA).

Vice Chairmen: Owan Elizabeth Agbo; Okoro Uchechukwu James; Baka Andrew; Halidu Chashe; Ojo Gbenga Joshua; Isah Ismaila; Aliyu Isah; Yusuf Mohammed; Udenba Sunday; Aguma Bala Ahmed, and Akinlade Benson Abayomi.

Kuje Area Council

There are 11 chairmanship candidates (10 male, 1 female) and 11 vice chairmanship aspirants (9 male, 2 female).

Jerry Samuel (A), Kure Adamu (AA), Knabayi Stephen Adalo (ADC), Mustapha Aliyu (ADP), Danjuma Samuel Shekwolo (APC), Abdullahi Danladi Galdima (APGA), Musa Kuje Shekara (APM), Ubam Bako (NNPP), Zakwoyi Danlami (PDP), Zephaniah Dikko (SDP), Aju Loveday Ukwa (ZLP).

The candidates for the position of Vice Chairman are Sarki Yusuf, Musa Jamilu, Aliyu Mohammed, Ishaya Christiana, Boyi Asabe Zainab, Sarki Barko, Simon Sheapa Sheyigari, Onyeabor Nnameka Sunday, Mai-Iko Tanko Ibrahim, Onmonya Oghosa Godwin, Akor Ladi Eke.

Kwali Area Council

There are 9 male chairmanship aspirants and 9 vice chairmanship candidates (8 male, 1 female).

Obiako Patrick Ndubuisi (A), Oniobo Israel Oghenekome (AA), Bandoji Jeremiah (ADC), Agada Ojonugwa Friday (ADP), Daniel Nuhu Kwali (APC), Yakubu Dogara (APGA), Umar Yakubu Yanuti (APM), Kaura Hassan (NNPP), Haruna Pai Mohammed (PDP).

Vice Chairmen: Musa Yunusa, Eguaoje Samson Ohiochioya, Isah Garba, Yahaya Lawal , Abdullahi Ramatu, Suleman Waziri, Isah Usman, Aliyu Mohammed, Tukura Gado.

More Men, Fewer Women 

Ahead of the 2026 chairmanship election for the six area councils in the FCT, 95.4% of the candidates are male. Furthermore, for the position of vice chairman across the six area councils, 15.4% of the candidates are women, while 84.6% are men. pirants will be contesting compared to 4.6% female aspirants.

Additionally, for the post of vice chairman, across the six area councils, 15.4% of the women will be contesting, with 84.6% of their male counterparts.

Nevertheless, data indicate that although there is increasing advocacy for inclusivity, women remain underrepresented in chairmanship positions, whereas their representation in vice chairmanship roles is comparatively higher.

Out of 65 chairmanship candidates across the councils, only 3 are women: Anumnu Leader Abigail (Abaji, A), Richard Elizabeth (AMAC, ADP), and Aju Loveday Ukwa (Kuje, ZLP) made it to the chairmanship list.

Also, the breakdown shows that, under the Abaji area council, there are 2 female vice chairpersons; For the AMAC area council, there are 4 female vice chairpersons; the Bwari area council has just two female candidates vying for the vice chairmanship.

Gwagwalada Area Council has 1 female vice chairmanship candidate; Kuje Area Council has 2 females, while the Kwali Area Council has 1 female.

However, research shows that when women are underrepresented in local leadership, issues that directly affect them, such as maternal health, education for girls, gender-based violence, and access to microcredit, are less likely to receive sustained attention in council decisions.

Also, this imbalance risks perpetuating policies that do not fully address the needs of all citizens, especially marginalised groups like women, youth, and persons with disabilities. It also undermines Nigeria’s commitments towards achieving the 35% female representation benchmark.

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