The Federal Capital Territory has declared Friday a work-free day ahead of the Saturday, February 21 Area Council elections.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, also announced a movement restriction from 8 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
In a special broadcast on television and radio stations on Thursday, he urged the residents of the FCT to come out enmasse to vote for the candidates of their choice.
"On Saturday, February 21, we will all have a crucial opportunity to shape the future of our great Federal Capital Territory," Wike said.
"The election of either new or returning chairmen and councilors for the six area councils is a momentous occasion, and I urge you to come out in your numbers to exercise your right to vote.
"I urge you to go to the polls with a sense of purpose and responsibility. As we exercise our democratic right, let us do so in an orderly and lawful manner.
"Let us respect the rules, respect each other, and respect the outcome of the election. We must show the world that we are a mature and responsible electorate, capable of conducting ourselves with dignity and decorum.
"At this juncture, with the approval of the President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, I hereby declare Friday, February 20, 2026, as a work-free day to enable movement of residents to their various communities to participate in the elections.
"Similarly, the president has approved the restriction of movement within the FCT from 8 p.m. on Friday, February 20 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026."
Crucial Polls
Voters in the Federal Capital Territory will go to the polls this Saturday, February 21, for the Area Council elections, choosing six council chairpersons and 62 councillors across the six councils — Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.
Security has been stepped up ahead of the vote, with the FCT Police and other agencies deployed across Abuja.
INEC says it is prepared for the election under the new Electoral Act and warns that vote buying will not be tolerated.
At least two chairmanship candidates of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) have stepped down for their All Progressives Congress (APC) opponents, citing talks mediated by Wike.
The move is unusual for the PDP, which was Nigeria's ruling party from 1999 to 2015.
It is also unusual for a party chieftain to discourage his party members from dropping their ambitions and supporting their opponents.
Wike, whom the PDP candidates say influenced their decisions to drop their ambitions, is a member of a faction of the PDP.
