APC Challenges PDP's Victory in Gwagwalada Area Council Election

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially submitted a petition disputing the results of the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election that took place on February 21.

Gwagwalada is noted as the only area council in Abuja where the APC did not emerge victorious in the recent elections. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claimed victory in Gwagwalada, while the APC was successful in the other five area councils within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The APC candidate, Yahaya Usman, is contesting the election outcome through a petition filed with the Area Council Election Petition Tribunal located in Abuja. This petition challenges the return of Mohammed Kasim from the PDP, who was declared the victor of the Gwagwalada election.

According to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Kasim garnered 22,165 votes, overcoming Mr. Usman of the APC, who received 17,788 votes.

The basis of the petition claims that the election did not adhere to the necessary legal and procedural requirements. The petitioners – the APC along with its candidates – are represented by a legal team led by Chris Udeoyibo.

The legal document states, “The election was invalid due to non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2026.” Additionally, they assert, “The election and the return of the first respondent was invalid because of corrupt practices.”

The petitioners also contend that the declared winner did not achieve a majority of valid votes cast in the election. In total, the dispute concerns results from 110 polling units across the council area.

The petition delineates two major issues: alleged non-compliance in over 100 polling units and other reported violations in a smaller number of locations. Specific grievances include inconsistencies between voter accreditation records and the final vote counts in several polling stations, as well as concerns over the collation process.

Statements from witnesses accompanying the petition describe various observations from polling units, including delays in the start of voting and discrepancies between the results announced and the recorded accreditation numbers.

One unnamed witness claimed, “The polling unit did not open at the scheduled time, and the election officials were late.” Another statement indicated, “I observed that the number of votes announced did not correspond to the number of voters present at that polling unit.”

The petition also highlights issues related to documentation, such as result sheets, voter registers, and accreditation reports, which the petitioners intend to use as evidence during the proceedings.

The petitioners are calling for the tribunal to reach several conclusions, including a declaration that the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election held on February 21 did not substantially comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2026.

The petitioners are seeking, among other remedies, “An Order to annul the elections in the affected polling units due to incidents of non-compliance and corrupt practices.” They also ask for an order “to invalidate the declaration and return of the first respondent” as the winner of the Gwagwalada Area Council election.

Alternatively, they urge the tribunal to declare them the rightful winners of the election, asserting they secured the majority of lawful votes.

As the case is processed, the tribunal will review documentary evidence, witness testimonies, and adherence to electoral guidelines before reaching a resolution. The legal proceedings underway could either affirm the current results or alter the political leadership within the Gwagwalada Area Council, contingent on the tribunal's decision.