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With just months to go before the 2026 Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a firm declaration: no further withdrawals or replacements of candidates will be permitted—except in cases of death.
The announcement, which follows the publication of the final list of candidates, comes amid mounting political maneuvering by parties ahead of the February 21, 2026 polls. INEC made it clear on Monday that the window for parties to swap candidates has officially closed.
Mr. Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, made the position known in a statement released in Abuja on Monday.
“With this publication, no further withdrawal or replacement of candidates will be allowed except in the event of death of a candidate or running mate before Election Day as provided by Section 34(1) of the Electoral Act,” Olumekun stated.
He explained that the move aligns with INEC’s electoral calendar and legal obligations, following the earlier publication of candidates’ personal particulars.
“On 18th August 2025, the Commission published the personal particulars of candidates who emerged from primaries conducted by political parties for the 2026 FCT Area Council Election,” he recalled.
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Olumekun noted that a total of 17 political parties successfully uploaded their candidates’ details—using Form EC9—by the official deadline of 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 11, 2025. That marked the end of the period for any party to withdraw or substitute a candidate.
“Consequently, the Commission hereby publishes the final list of candidates that will contest in the 2026 FCT Area Council Election. The full list of the candidates by party, age, gender and academic qualifications has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms for public information,” he added.
INEC’s firm stance is a reminder to political parties that procedural deadlines will be enforced strictly in the lead-up to the polls. With the final candidate list now set in stone, the race for control of the FCT’s area councils enters its final phase—no more substitutions, no more second chances.
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