The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has alleged that votes were traded for as much as ₦10,000 during Saturday’s 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections
Addressing journalists in Abuja, a co-convener of the group, Celestine Odo, said while the elections were largely peaceful, observers recorded widespread vote buying and delays in the commencement of voting across several polling units.
According to Odo, the situation room received reports of open vote trading in parts of Abuja Municipal Area Council, where voters allegedly exchanged their votes for as much as ₦10,000.
He said, “Vote buying was observed in many polling units visited. In few a places, it was openly done in some polling units such as PU008, 056, 057 and 058 Gidan Mangoro Ward of AMAC where votes traded with as much as N10,000 each. In some other places, votes buying was discreet but observed, ” he said.
Odo said reports from Situation Room observers indicated that polls opened late in many areas, with an average commencement time of about 9:15am, attributing the delay to the late arrival of officials and materials from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He noted that although voting began early in some locations, including parts of Kwali Area Council, late openings were recorded in many polling units across the territory.
“Reports from across the FCT from our networks of observers and partners showed a relatedly late opening of polls with an average time of 9:15am in many of the polling units observed. In places like Kwali Area Council, INEC personnel and material arrived on time and voting began early. While we acknowledge timely opening of polls in a very few voting locations, we note that there was late opening of polls, in many voting locations owing to late arrival of INEC staff and materials, ” he said.
