The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced February 21, 2026, as the tentative date for chairmanship and councillorship elections across the six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during a meeting with leaders of registered political parties on Wednesday in Abuja.
Prof. Yakubu revealed that the notice of elections for the FCT Area Council polls would be issued on February 26, 2025, in compliance with the provisions of Section 28(1) of the 2022 Electoral Act. He explained that the act requires the commission to release election notices no later than 360 days before the date of the election.
“The last Area Council election in the FCT was held on February 12, 2022. By the effluxion of time, the tenure of the current Chairmen and Councillors will end next year. Consequently, the commission has approved February 21, 2026, as the date for the next Area Council election in the FCT,” Yakubu stated.
Voting will take place in all designated polling units across 68 constituencies to elect six Chairmen and 62 Councillors. The detailed timeline for electoral activities includes:
• Notice of Election Publication: February 26, 2025
• Party Primaries: June 9–30, 2025
• Candidate Nomination Portal Opens: July 21, 2025
• Candidate Nomination Portal Closes: August 11, 2025
• Final List of Candidates: September 22, 2025
• Commencement of Campaigns: September 24, 2025
• End of Campaigns: Midnight, February 19, 2026
• Preparations for Anambra Governorship Election
Prof. Yakubu also called on political parties to commence preparations for the 2025 Anambra State Governorship election, scheduled for November 8, 2025. Party primaries for the nomination of candidates will hold from March 20 to April 10, 2025. Campaigns in public by political parties are slated to begin on June 11, 2025, and will end by midnight on November 6, 2025.
Highlighting INEC’s commitment to its mandate, the chairman emphasized the importance of adhering to stipulated timelines and legal provisions. “We remain focused on delivering credible elections and ensuring that the process reflects the will of the people,” he said.
Prof. Yakubu assured stakeholders of INEC’s readiness to conduct both the Area Council and Anambra elections in a transparent and credible manner, urging political parties and candidates to align their activities with the commission’s guidelines.
INEC’s proactive scheduling of electoral timelines reaffirms its dedication to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process through early preparations and compliance with legal requirements.
