The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that a total of 637 candidates will compete for 68 seats in the upcoming 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election.

Naijaonpoint understands that the candidates will vie for six chairmanship and 62 councillorship positions across the six area councils in the FCT.

In a statement released on Thursday, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, confirmed the candidates and their respective positions.

The nominations were submitted by 17 political parties before the 6:00 p.m. deadline on Monday, August 11, 2025.

Olumekun further disclosed that, in line with the Electoral Act 2022, INEC will publish the personal particulars of all nominated candidates by Monday, August 18, 2025.

This will include copies of their Form EC9, academic credentials, and other supporting materials, which will be displayed in INEC offices across the six area councils.

“Following the conclusion of party primaries for the Area Council election in the FCT, seventeen (17) political parties uploaded their candidates’ nomination forms by the deadline of 6:00 p.m. on Monday, 11th August 2025, when the dedicated portal automatically shut down,” Olumekun explained.

Naijaonpoint reports that INEC is expected to make public the details of the nominated candidates, including their academic credentials and other documents submitted via Form EC9. These will be displayed at INEC offices across all six area councils in the FCT for public scrutiny.

“In line with the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission will on Monday, 18th August 2025, publish the personal particulars of candidates by displaying copies of their Form EC9 along with all the accompanying academic credentials and other documents submitted by them, in all our offices in the six area councils in the FCT,” the statement added.

Public Urged to Scrutinise Candidates’ Documents

The electoral commission urged the public to thoroughly examine the documents to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Commission also reminded citizens that if any candidate’s information is found to be false, it can be challenged in court.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the documents. Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by a candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022,” Olumekun added.

INEC has confirmed that the final list of candidates will be released on September 22, 2025, in accordance with the Electoral Act’s requirement to publish the list at least 150 days before the election date.

“The final list of candidates will be published on 22nd September 2025, which is at least 150 days before the day of the election, in line with the provision of Section 32(1) of the Electoral Act 2022,” Olumekun said.

Naijaonpoint reports that the FCT Area Council election is scheduled to take place on February 21, 2026.