A total of 68 positions will be contested in the February 21 election, including 62 councillorship seats and six chairmanship posts
The ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, African Democratic Party, ADC and other political parties have fielded candidates for the said elective offices .
Recently, former presidential candidate of Labour party, Peter Obi who had recently crossed over to the ADC joined supporters of the party to flag off the political rally across the local councils in FCT in preparation for the poll.
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The ruling APC has also intensified its campaign in its bid to hold to power in the forthcoming elections in Abuja .
Campaigns by political parties will end on Thursday, February 19, 2026, while the election itself will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Under Section 44 of the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC is required to publish the Notice of Poll not later than 14 days before the FCT Area Council Election.
The Commission is also mandated to set the election date backed by Section 178 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which states that the FCT Area Council election be held not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the end of the current officeholder's tenure.
INEC has already completed seven out of the nine activities outlined in the timetable for the 2026 FCT Area Council Election.
Similarly, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, has commended the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) for organizing a capacity-building workshop on Media and Information Literacy (MIL) for staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the FCT.
Represented by the Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, during the two-day training for selected INEC-FCT personnel, the REC underscored the importance of strengthening electoral integrity through enhanced information literacy.
He noted that misinformation, disinformation, and manipulated digital content pose serious threats to election credibility, public trust, and national security.
According to him, the workshop will equip staff with the skills to detect harmful digital materials, including deepfakes, and respond with accurate, timely information to counter emerging information threats.
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Malam Idris reaffirmed the Commission's commitment to protecting the information environment by working collaboratively with the media and relevant stakeholders to promote truth and curb misinformation ahead of the forthcoming FCT Area Council Election.
He encouraged participants to maximize the learning opportunity, share insights, and apply the knowledge gained to strengthen communication and contribute to conducting peaceful, credible, and secure elections.
He also expressed appreciation to CJID for its continued support.
The two-day training aims to enhance the capacity of INEC-FCT staff to navigate the rapidly evolving digital information landscape and uphold electoral integrity as preparations intensify for the Area Council Election scheduled for February 21, 2026.
