During the FCT Area Council elections held in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, reports emerged of dramatically low voter turnout coupled with technical difficulties related to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). At polling units like LEA Primary School in Kubwa II, only a fraction of the registered voters managed to cast their votes, with officials confirming that only 50 out of 700 registered voters had participated by mid-day. The situation was mirrored in other polling units, indicating a widespread issue rather than isolated incidents.

Election officials expressed their concerns over the low turnout, highlighting an apparent disengagement among the electorate despite the elections being deemed crucial for local governance. The Presiding Officer of Polling Unit 044, Abdulmalik Hussaini, reflected on the troubling absence of voters, while his counterpart at Polling Unit 048 reported equally dismal figures, with just 50 out of 750 registered voters accredited. This suggests that the integrity of the elections could be at risk as low participation raises questions about the legitimacy and mandate of the elected officials.

The combination of technical delays with the BVAS system, which is supposed to streamline the accreditation process, and the lack of voter engagement presents a complex challenge for the electoral body in Nigeria. If such trends continue, they could lead to disenfranchisement among communities and undermine public confidence in democratic processes. The authorities may need to investigate the causes of this low turnout and resolve any technical difficulties promptly to ensure future elections do not face similar challenges.