THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final list of candidates for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
In a statement issued today, INEC warned political parties that no candidate withdrawal or replacement would be permitted, except in cases of death, as provided under Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act.
“With this publication, no further withdrawal or replacement of candidates will be allowed except in the event of death of a candidate or running mate before election day,” said Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
He explained that on August 18, 2025, the commission had published the particulars of candidates who emerged from party primaries.
A total of 17 political parties uploaded details of their candidates on Form EC9 by the deadline of August 11, 2025.
The commission confirmed that the final list of candidates—categorized by party affiliation, age, gender, and academic qualifications—has been uploaded on its official website and social media platforms for public access.
The FCT Area Council elections will take place in less than five months, marking another test of the country’s electoral process at the grassroots level.