February 21, 2026 — SUNTV Global Report
Confusion and frustration marked the Area Council elections across Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory on Saturday, as many voters struggled to locate their designated polling units, while others faced delays caused by the late arrival of electoral officials.
SUNTV Global correspondents who monitored the exercise across several locations observed residents moving from one area to another in search of voting centres, amid complaints of poor communication and inadequate voter information from authorities.
Findings revealed that the situation left many voters stranded and uncertain about where to cast their ballots, raising fears of possible voter disenfranchisement.
One voter, identified simply as Precious, said she had spent hours trying to find her assigned polling unit without success.
“This is not my polling unit,” she said. “I was told it’s around Regina Health Centre, but I’m still finding it difficult to locate it because I don’t live in this area.”
Observers reported that Precious’ experience was not isolated, as many voters were seen wandering between polling locations seeking clarification from officials and fellow residents.
A correspondent with Platinum TV also confirmed that several voters were misinformed about their polling centres, forcing them to travel repeatedly between different locations before finding the correct units.
The confusion compounded existing delays reported earlier in the day, particularly in Kubwa, where voters accused the Independent National Electoral Commission of arriving hours behind schedule.
At polling units in the PW Maroko area and parts of Phase 4, residents who arrived as early as 7:00 a.m. were still waiting by mid-morning, with no sign of electoral officials or voting materials.
One voter, Nurat Usman, expressed frustration over the delay.
“We have not seen any officials here, and it’s already 9:00 a.m. This situation is very discouraging,” she said.
Some residents warned that the combined effect of poor information and delayed voting could discourage participation, especially among voters with work or family commitments.
As of the time of filing this report, voting had yet to commence in several affected polling units across parts of the Federal Capital Territory, intensifying concerns over the smooth conduct of the election.
