A civil society organization, Yiaga Africa, has expressed concerns over the 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, highlighting issues such as low voter turnout, logistical challenges, and reports of vote buying. Despite noting that the elections, overseen by the Independent National Electoral Commission, were conducted in a predominantly peaceful environment, Yiaga Africa's Executive Director, Samson Itodo, emphasized significant administrative shortcomings that impacted the overall electoral process. The elections were intended to fill six chairmanship and 62 councillorship positions across various councils in the FCT, including Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji, and Kwali.

Yiaga Africa deployed trained and accredited observers throughout the election process, monitoring critical activities such as voter accreditation, voting, and counting. Itodo reported that only a small number of eligible voters sought to participate at the polling stations, indicating a troubling trend in civic engagement. While the organization commended the overall peacefulness of the electoral environment, the low turnout raises questions about public confidence in the electoral process, and the mention of irregularities points to a need for reform to enhance the integrity of future elections.

The findings from Yiaga Africa's assessment underscore the importance of addressing both logistical shortcomings and enhancing voter education to ensure higher civic participation in future elections. The report serves as a wake-up call for electoral authorities and political stakeholders to review the electoral processes, enhance transparency, and restore public trust to foster a more robust democratic engagement within Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory, which has faced its unique challenges in the political landscape in recent years.