The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Kasim, wins the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) polls, defeating his closest rival from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Mediaplusng.com, official results show that Kasim secures 22,165 votes to overcome APC candidate Yahaya Shehu, who polls 17,788 votes in the keenly contested local government election held on February 21, 2026.
The Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Philip Akpen, announces the result on Sunday, describing the exercise as peaceful and smoothly conducted across polling units in Gwagwalada Area Council.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the Returning Officer formally declares: “That Mohammed Kasim of the PDP, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected.” The announcement follows the completion of collation and verification of results from all wards within the council area.
In the breakdown of votes, Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) finishes third with 1,687 votes, while other parties trail behind in the overall tally.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the outcome in Gwagwalada forms part of the broader results emerging from the 2026 FCT Area Council elections. So far, the APC records victories in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, and Kwali Area Councils, while the PDP claims Gwagwalada.
As of the time of filing this report, results from Kuje Area Council are still being collated by INEC officials, while the final outcome from Abaji Area Council remains pending confirmation.
Political observers describe the Gwagwalada result as significant for grassroots governance in the FCT, noting that area council administrations play a vital role in local infrastructure development, primary healthcare delivery, environmental management, and community services.
The peaceful conduct of the election in Gwagwalada is also seen as a positive indicator for democratic processes at the local government level. Electoral stakeholders commend voters, security agencies, and INEC officials for ensuring orderly participation throughout the voting and collation stages.
With Mohammed Kasim now declared chairman-elect, attention shifts to policy priorities and governance expectations in Gwagwalada Area Council, as residents anticipate improved service delivery and inclusive administration under the new leadership.
As INEC concludes collation in the remaining area councils, the final configuration of political control across the FCT’s six area councils is expected to shape grassroots politics and development strategies in Nigeria’s capital territory over the coming years.
