Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has described the smooth conduct of the February 21 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections as a positive signal for credible general elections in 2027, even as he expressed concern over low voter turnout .
Kalu, who led a high-level All Progressives Congress (APC) election monitoring team, spoke after inspecting polling units across the FCT, including the Presidential Villa precinct, Garki Village, and several centres within Abuja metropolis . Also on the observation tour were Deputy House Leader Halims Abdullahi and Minister of State for the FCT, Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, alongside members of the APC campaign team .
“The peaceful atmosphere we witnessed across polling units demonstrates that with proper planning and commitment, we can conduct elections that reflect the will of the people. This is a blueprint for what we should expect in 2027,” Kalu stated .
He commended President Bola Tinubu and the APC National Working Committee for constituting a committee to oversee both the campaign and election process. “That decision gave us the opportunity to be involved in the planning of the campaign and to supervise the implementation of the election, ensuring that all necessary measures were put in place,” he explained .
However, Kalu decried the low voter turnout observed across many polling units, urging citizens to take greater interest in electoral processes. “Democracy thrives on participation. We must continue to educate and mobilise our people to understand that their votes are their voice,” he added .
The APC secured victory in five of the six area councils—Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Kwali, and Kuje—while the PDP retained Gwagwalada . The elections were widely commended by observer groups for their peaceful conduct, though concerns over voter apathy persist ahead of the 2027 general elections .
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Disclaimer: This report is based on multiple news sources as cited, including The Guardian Nigeria. CDA News Nigeria does not claim ownership of the source material.
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