The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Kasim Mohammed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the winner of the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election, held on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Mohammed secured 22,165 votes, defeating his closest rival, Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 17,788 votes.
The election was deemed peaceful and smooth by INEC Returning Officer, Professor Philip Akpen, despite reports of voter intimidation and allegations of vote-buying.
Prof. Akpen made this known in the early hours of Sunday.
He declared: “I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council, Gwagwalada chairmanship held on February 21, 2026.
“That Mohammed Kasim of PDP, having certified the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected.”
Akpen also said that the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yahaya Usman, scored a total of 17,788 votes, while Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) scored 1,687 to come third place.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chairmanship election was conducted in 10 wards of the council, namely: Paiko, Dobi, Gwako, Ibwa, Staff Quaters, Zuba, Ikwa, Kutunku, Gwagwalada Centre and Tunga Maje.
Mohammed’s victory is seen as a significant win for the PDP, given the party’s current internal challenges and defections to other parties.
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