President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the winners of Saturday’s elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano and Rivers states, describing their victories as a fresh mandate to deepen grassroots governance and democratic accountability.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted chairmanship and councillorship elections across the six area councils of the FCT, alongside by-elections in the Ahoada East II and Khana II state constituencies in Rivers State, as well as in the Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State.

In a message following the polls, the President urged the victorious candidates to “serve with humility, patriotism and dedication,” stressing that the mandate bestowed on them by the electorate must be treated as “a sacred trust.”

He said the outcome of the elections reflects the will of the people and reinforces the nation’s democratic culture, calling on the winners to prioritise inclusive governance and service delivery.

President Tinubu commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for what he described as remarkable achievements in the territory, noting that visible infrastructure and administrative reforms have translated into political dividends for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
The President also congratulated the APC national leadership, as well as the party’s structures in Kano and Rivers states and members nationwide, on the victories recorded at the polls.

He lauded INEC, security agencies and voters for ensuring the peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections, noting that the “courage and discipline” displayed by contestants and supporters alike demonstrate that democracy thrives on participation and healthy competition.

Affirming that the successful conduct of the elections strengthens democratic institutions, Tinubu called on INEC to continue improving its processes and to deliver even more exemplary electoral exercises in the future.

Recall that the FCT Area Council elections were held on Saturday across Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory to elect chairmen for the six councils and councillors for 62 wards.

The polls, scheduled for February 21, 2026, followed the expiration of the tenure of officials elected in 2022.
Voting took place in designated polling units across 68 constituencies, with accreditation conducted between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm

INEC began announcing results on Sunday, with the APC securing several victories, though some disputes were reported in certain areas. By early Sunday, the electoral body had uploaded 92 per cent of chairmanship results to its IReV portal, with collation still ongoing as of February 22.

Preliminary results indicate a mixed outcome overall, with the APC dominating most councils. However, party agents in some locations, including Kuje, reported incidents such as alleged over-voting.