Indigenes of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are set to elect chairmen and councillors who will oversee the administration of the six Area Councils
These elections are often called local government elections in the 36 states of the federation, but in the FCT, they are called area council elections.
This is because, unlike states with elected governors and state assemblies, the FCT is administered by a federally appointed minister.
Its area councils are the closest elected bodies to the people, providing essential services such as water, sanitation, local roads, schools, and healthcare.
That makes their decisions highly visible and directly felt in everyday life.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will conduct the elections in 2,822 polling units across 62 wards in the six area councils: Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.
The last area council polls were held on 12 February 2022, resulting in a split outcome with three councils won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and three won by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
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In some rural wards, voters know the candidates by name, family lineage and community history.
Female candidates
INEC’s final list shows that only three women are contesting for chairmanship across the six area councils.
This figure represents less than 5 per cent of the total number of chairmanship candidates.
In Abaji, Anumnu Abigail of the Action Alliance is the only female candidate for chairmanship. AMAC has Richard Elizabeth of the Action Democratic Party, while Kuje features Aju Ukwa of the Zenith Labour Party as its sole female chairmanship candidate.
In Bwari, Gwagwalada and Kwali, no woman is contesting for the top seat.
However, female participation is relatively higher in the vice-chairmanship category, where several parties fielded women as running mates.
As INEC announces readiness for the conduct of the FCT Area Council elections, some streets, marketplaces, and community halls of the territory are buzzing with expectations.