The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), through its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), has raised concern over late polling unit (PU) reassignments, vote trading, and other infractions that characterised Saturday’s FCT Area Councils’ Elections.
The organisation said in a preliminary statement of the elections that it deployed a team of roving observers across polling units (PUs) in all 62 wards of the territory from the early hours of Election Day to document and assess the conduct of the 2026 FCT Area Council Elections.
The report co-signed by Dr. Dauda Garuba, Director, CDD-West Africa; and Prof. Victor Adetula, Chair, CDD-EAC, noted that as voting concluded in most locations and sorting and counting commenced, preliminary findings point to a relatively peaceful exercise.
“However, poor administrative coordination and operational challenges significantly disrupted voter participation in several Area Councils.
“CDD-EAC observers received multiple reports of voters whose polling units were reassigned shortly before Election Day without adequate notice or prior information. In many instances, affected voters arrived at their usual polling locations only to discover that their names had been moved to different units within or outside their immediate communities.
“At Polling Unit 055, Ouagadogou Street Ward, Wuse, CDD-West Africa observers reported that over 20 potential voters had come there to vote, only to discover that their polling units had been changed. This last-minute administrative adjustment created confusion and frustration among voters and polling officials alike,” the report said.
It said that the situation was further compounded by the movement restrictions imposed across the FCT on Election Day, which limited the ability of some affected individuals to navigate to their newly assigned polling units in time to participate in the election.
According to the report, others simply did not feel the need to go the extra mile of locating their new polling units.
“CDD-West Africa is concerned that this development may have contributed to low voter turnout in some areas and undermined public confidence in the administration of the elections. Ensuring that voters have timely and accurate information about their polling units is a fundamental requirement for inclusive participation and electoral credibility.
“Across a number of polling units observed, CDD-EAC also noted operational challenges that affected the timely commencement of accreditation and voting. In PU 004, Wuse Zone 2 Primary School in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), it was observed that the PU had 751 voters on the register, but only 504 were displayed, while there was no voter list displayed at PU 004, Wowo Nursery and Primary School in Kuje Area Council.
“This caused dissatisfaction among voters who were present and ready to exercise their franchise but were met with explanations. In some locations, INEC officials arrived with incorrect Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, resulting in delays while replacement devices were awaited.
“Observers reported instances where the BVAS was unable to authenticate registered voters, with some voters marked as invalid due to duplicate records across Polling Units 004 and 005 in Kurudu Primary School, Orozo Ward, AMAC.
“In other cases, voters were unable to locate their details on the displayed voter register, raising concerns about access to accreditation,” the report said.
The CDD-EAC report said that Africa Administrative discrepancies were recorded in at least one polling location where disagreement over polling unit codes created agitation among voters.
It said that while INEC officials subsequently verified the correct polling unit and commenced reorganisation, the delay contributed to uncertainty and extended waiting time for affected voters.
In addition, the report said, some presiding officers appeared uncertain about procedural requirements relating to the handling of voter registers in the presence of security personnel, party agents, and observers.
It said, “Taken together, these operational gaps point to systemic issues that require urgent attention ahead of Ekiti, Osun, and the 2027 General Elections, particularly with respect to voter data management, polling unit coordination, and frontline procedural readiness.
“Observers also documented isolated incidents of electoral malpractice. At Kabusa Primary School, police reportedly arrested a woman found in possession of more than twenty voter cards, raising serious concerns regarding voter impersonation and the integrity of the accreditation process.
“Reports of vote buying and electoral inducement were recorded in multiple polling locations. At Polling Unit 009, LEA Lugbe, observers noted open inducement activities during voting. Also, in Polling Units 008, 056, 057, and 058 in Kutunku, Gwagwalada Area Council, and Polling Unit 030 in Kuje, financial inducements ranging from ₦1,000 to ₦5,000 were reported. Party agents were also observed offering voters sums of up to ₦10,000 in some polling units in other areas.
“In at least one instance, a voter reportedly displayed a completed ballot paper to a party agent after voting. Observers further confirmed that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested suspected vote traders in Gwagwalada (PU: Kutunku Primary School, Ward: Kutunku).
“While the election environment was largely calm in most areas, isolated incidents of tension and disruption were recorded. These included physical altercations between party agents and exchanges that escalated into confrontation in some polling units.
“In one reported incident at Polling Unit 003, AU Suleman, Abaji Area Council, an unidentified individual accompanied by a security agent allegedly entered a polling unit without accreditation, prompting a security response that included the use of tear gas.
“The incident caused voters to disperse and led to reports of missing ballot papers. Order was subsequently restored.”
The CDD-West Africa commends voters who turned out to participate in the election despite the operational challenges observed in several polling units and calls on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently investigate the reported last-minute polling unit reassignments and address the administrative and logistical gaps identified during the process.
It said, “These developments underscore the need for stronger safeguards to prevent similar disruptions in future elections and to restore public confidence in the administration of the electoral process.
“As Nigeria prepares for subsequent off-cycle polls and the 2027 General Elections, all electoral stakeholders must take proactive steps to strengthen procedural clarity, voter communication, and institutional preparedness in order to safeguard electoral integrity.”
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