Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that the 2026 Federal Capital Territory area council elections recorded a voter turnout of 16 per cent, marking a significant rise compared to the 2022 polls.
Gatekeepers News reports that INEC conducted chairmanship and councillorship elections across the six area councils of the FCT on Saturday. In a statement issued on Sunday, Wilfred Ifogah, the commission’s acting director of voter education and publicity, said the figures reflected noticeable improvement in citizen participation.
According to him, a total of 1.68 million voters were registered for the 2026 elections, representing an increase of about 100,000 voters from the 1.58 million recorded in 2022, a growth rate of 6.3 per cent. Out of this number, 239,210 voters were accredited and cast their ballots, translating to a turnout of 14.2 per cent.
By comparison, only 148,685 voters participated in the 2022 exercise, accounting for 9.4 per cent of the registered voters at the time. The latest figures show that 90,510 more voters took part in the 2026 polls, representing a 61 per cent increase in actual participation.
INEC said the improvement suggests growing public interest in grassroots governance, although overall participation remains low. Despite the progress, over 85 per cent of registered voters still stayed away from the polls, raising continued concerns about voter apathy.
Several civil society organisations and election observers commended the peaceful conduct of the elections, describing the process as orderly and largely free of major disruptions.
However, they also urged the electoral body and other stakeholders to intensify voter education and public sensitisation to encourage broader participation in future elections.
While the commission acknowledged the progress recorded, it said sustained efforts would be required to rebuild public trust, strengthen democratic engagement, and ensure higher voter turnout in subsequent elections across the country.
