February 21, 2026 | News
Residents of Kubwa in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory were left stranded and frustrated on Saturday morning after officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission failed to arrive at several polling units hours after the scheduled start of voting in the FCT council elections.
Correspondents of SUNTV Global who monitored the exercise observed that many voters had gathered as early as 7:00 a.m. at polling centres in PW Maroko units 005 and 033, as well as other locations in Phase 4, Kubwa, but were still waiting long after voting was expected to begin.
By mid-morning, there was no sign of electoral officials or voting materials, leaving residents confused and increasingly agitated about the delay.
At the affected polling units, groups of voters were seen standing by the roadside and under makeshift shelters, expressing disappointment over what they described as poor election logistics.
One voter, Nurat Usman, told reporters that the situation had caused growing concern among residents.
“We have been here since morning, but as you can see, there are no INEC officials at Polling Units 033 and 005, and it’s already past 9 a.m.,” she said.
Several voters warned that the delay could lead to voter disenfranchisement, especially for those unable to remain at polling centres for long periods due to work schedules or family responsibilities.
As of the time of filing this report, voting had not commenced in multiple affected locations.
The late arrival of officials comes amid heightened political tension in the FCT following controversy surrounding the recent curfew imposed by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, a move that has drawn criticism from various stakeholders who described it as unlawful and politically motivated.
