Fresh controversy has engulfed Nigeria’s political landscape following the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winners of all elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rivers, and Kano States—except one.
The controversy followed allegations of glaring discrepancies between field result sheets and figures uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) servers.
Allegations of Result Manipulation
Opposition parties and civil society groups have raised alarm over what they describe as “mutilation” of results, particularly in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
(See few examples of copies of the mutilated results below.)
Critics argue that the figures uploaded to INEC’s Result Viewing (IReV) portal do not align with polling unit records, fueling concerns about transparency and credibility.
One striking example involves a polling unit with the following statistics:
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Registered voters: 345
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Accredited voters: 213
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Ballots issued: 213
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Unused ballots: 132
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Rejected ballots: 2
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Valid votes: 211
Despite these figures, APC was reportedly credited with 1,212 votes in the same unit—an anomaly described by commentators as “a miracle” and “statistically impossible.”
Such irregularities have amplified suspicions of deliberate tampering and manipulation.
Respecting the newly appointed INEC Chairman, Joash Ojo Amupitan, an observer exclaimed:
“The former INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, might prove to be a saint after all!”
Wider Concerns About Electoral Integrity
Critics link the controversy to the National Assembly’s refusal to mandate exclusive electronic transmission of results, a reform widely demanded by Nigerians to safeguard electoral integrity.
They argue that the current hybrid system—where manual collation can override electronic data—creates loopholes for manipulation and undermines public trust in democracy.
“This is foreshadowing how 2027 will roll if nothing is done,” one opposition voice warned.
He lamented that Nigeria appears to be “moving backwards” while neighboring countries advance democratic reforms.
The frustration is palpable among citizens who feel disenfranchised by repeated electoral controversies.\
INEC’s Response
INEC has issued statements acknowledging logistical challenges, including delays in collation due to difficult terrain in certain wards such as Kabi in Kuje Area Council.
However, the Commission has not directly addressed allegations of vote inflation or discrepancies on its IReV portal.
According to INEC, 93% of polling unit results had been uploaded to the IReV portal by Sunday, February 22, and residents were urged to access results online.
“The Commission appreciates the residents of the FCT for their peaceful conduct and cooperation throughout the electoral process.
According to the Commission’s Election Operations Dashboard, 45% of polling units opened for voting as at 8:30am, while all polling units were confirmed open by 10:00am on Election Day.
The Commission, however, noted challenges encountered by some voters in locating their designated polling units.
Contrary to the claim in some quarters that some voters were migrated to another/new polling units different from their original polling units, the Commission wishes to state categorically that voters were not migrated.
What the Commission did was to create split polling units in large polling units with voters’ registration of over 1,250 voters to avoid congestion on election day.
The split units are located some few meters away from the original polling units within the same premises.
The public will recall that the Commission displayed the Register of Voters at designated centres/split polling units four days to the Area Council elections to enable voters confirm their details and polling unit locations.
Text messages/emails were sent to the affected voters on Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st February 2026 indicating the actual locations of their split polling units.
These were intended solely as reminders to assist them in identifying their current polling units.
The Commission also wishes to inform the public that as at 2:00pm on Sunday, 22nd February 2026, the upload of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal had reached 93%.
Residents of the FCT and other interested members of the public can access results from the six Area Councils via the portal.
While the Commission remains concerned about voter apathy, it notes a significant improvement compared to the previous election.
In the 2022 Area Council election, a total of 148,685 voters were recorded, representing 9.4% of registered voters.
In the current election, over 239,210 voters voted, representing approximately 15% of the 1,680,315 total registered voters in the FCT.”
Critics argue that uploading questionable figures without addressing anomalies only deepens mistrust.
(See few examples of copies of the mutilated results below.)
Implications for Nigeria’s Democracy
The controversy raises pressing questions about Nigeria’s electoral process, voter confidence, and the credibility of future elections.
Analysts warn that unless reforms are enacted—particularly around electronic transmission and independent auditing—disputes over results could intensify, threatening both political stability and democratic legitimacy.
For many Nigerians, the “miracle votes” in AMAC symbolize a broader crisis: a democracy struggling to reconcile constitutional ideals with political realities.
The outcome of this dispute may well shape the trajectory of Nigeria’s democratic experiment ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Overview of FCT Area Council Elections, Feb. 21, 2026, as Presented by INEC
- Elections held for 6 Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councillorship seats.
- Results announced late Saturday, except Kuje Area Council (released Sunday, 3:30pm).
- Polling units: 45% opened by 8:30am; all open by 10:00am.
- Clarification: No voter migration. INEC only created split polling units (for >1,250 registered voters) to reduce congestion.
- Communication: Register of Voters displayed 4 days before election; SMS/email reminders sent to affected voters.
- Results upload: By 2:00pm Sunday, 93% of polling unit results were on the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) Portal.
- Turnout: 239,210 voters participated (~15% of 1.68m registered). This marks an improvement from 2022 (148,685 voters, ~9.4%).
See copies of the mutilated results below:
