INEC Sets February 21 for FCT Area Council, Rivers and Kano Bye-Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections, along with bye elections in Rivers and Kano States, are scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash O. Amupitan made the disclosure on Wednesday during the Commission’s First Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the INEC Conference Room in Abuja.
The FCT elections will involve 1,680,315 registered voters across 2,822 polling units in the six Area Councils: Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. A total of 570 candidates are contesting for Chairmanship, Vice-Chairmanship, and Councillorship positions. Campaigns will end on Thursday, February 19, while all non-sensitive election materials have been distributed, ad hoc staff recruited and trained, and BVAS devices configured for accreditation and results transmission. INEC will also conduct a mock accreditation exercise on February 7 in 289 polling units.
Bye-elections will be held in Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies of Rivers State following a resignation and a death, with 41,085 and 71,865 voters respectively. In Kano State, bye-elections are scheduled for Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies due to the death of serving lawmakers, involving 330,228 and 205,418 voters, with 10 political parties participating.
Reflecting on past elections, Prof. Amupitan praised the Anambra State off-cycle governorship election of November 2025 for its transparency and inclusivity, noting the deployment of sign language interpreters as a milestone.