RismadarVoice Reporters, February 21, 2026
More than one hour after voting was scheduled to commence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, accreditation and voting had yet to begin at Polling Units 004 and 047 in Kubwa.
At Polling Unit 004, the Presiding Officer, Ereh Patience, attributed the delay to “issues at the camp where we lodged,” but declined to provide further details.
When asked when the process would commence, she said, “We are about to start.”
However, as of the time of filing this report, an Assistant Presiding Officer was still pasting the voters’ register, assisted by an agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
A voter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, expressed frustration over the delay. He said he arrived at the polling unit at 8:00a.m., ahead of the official commencement time, but INEC staff only arrived around 8:30a.m.
“It is unfortunate. I have been here since 8:00a.m., and the PO and the rest of the staff just arrived a while ago. This is 9:42a.m., and it is yet to start. It is really unfortunate,” he lamented.
Similarly, voting had not commenced at Polling Unit 047 as of 9:52 a.m., with Assistant Presiding Officers still seen setting up the voting booth.
Sources at the polling centre also disclosed that the Presiding Officer had “stepped out” at the time of filing this report, while party agents said they were yet to hold a briefing with her.
As of press time, accreditation and voting were yet to begin at both polling units.
