The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved February 21st, for the 2026 area council election in FCT.
Voting would be carried out in all the designated polling units across the 68 constituencies to elect the six area council chairmen and 62 councillors.
Professor Mahmood Yakubu, INEC Chairman, stated this during the first regular consultative meeting with leaders of political parties.
“As you are aware, the commission is responsible for the area council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the only part of the country where INEC conducts local government election.”
Timeline of activities
Mr Yakubu said primary elections by political parties will be held from 9 – 30 June while the candidate nomination portal will open from 9.00 a.m. on 21 July to 6.00 p.m. on 11 August.
He said the final list of candidates will be published on 22 September.
He added that public campaigns by political parties will commence on 24 September and end at midnight on Thursday, 19 February 2026.
“In compliance with the mandatory legal requirements, the notice for the election will be published next month, i.e. 26th February 2025,” he added.
“The detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election as well as the list of constituencies and type of elections in the FCT will be uploaded to our website before the end of this meeting,” Mr Yakubu stated.
