Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested 20 suspects for alleged vote-buying and other electoral offences during the just-concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, revealing that a total of N17,218,700 was recovered from the suspects during coordinated operations carried out across several area councils.
According to the commission, the arrests were made on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in connection with widespread electoral malpractice observed during the polls.
The EFCC said the offences ranged from vote-buying and vote-selling to obstruction of electoral officers.
One of the major recoveries occurred in Kwali Area Council, where a suspect was intercepted with N13.5 million inside a vehicle parked near a polling unit.
A breakdown of the arrests showed that:
- 2 suspects were arrested in Abaji
- 9 suspects in Gwagwalada
- 4 suspects in Kuje
- 4 suspects in Kwali
The agency confirmed that all suspects will be prosecuted once investigations are concluded.
The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of the FCT council elections, which saw the All Progressives Congress dominate the polls, winning five out of six chairmanship seats declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The Peoples Democratic Party secured victory only in Gwagwalada Area Council.
The election process had earlier sparked controversy, particularly in Kuje, where the PDP accused INEC of delaying the release of results from two wards and warned the situation could undermine the credibility of the exercise.
Despite the disputes, INEC later declared APC candidate Danjuma Shekwolo winner in Kuje, while PDP candidate Mohammed Kasim emerged victorious in Gwagwalada.
The EFCC’s latest action has added a fresh layer of concern over the integrity of the elections, as allegations of vote-buying and electoral fraud continue to trail the FCT council polls.
— SUNTV Global Channel Reporting
