Party agents and election observers have expressed concern over low voter turnout during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections in the Byagin, Kubwa district of Abuja on Saturday.
At the Government Secondary School polling unit, representatives from several political parties noted that far fewer residents showed up to vote compared with previous elections.
An agent of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who identified himself only as Nwaeze, said the turnout was “very small” and well below expectations based on the 2023 election.
He added that he has personally encouraged people he knows to come out and cast ballots, but “it appears people are tired.”
Meanwhile, a representative of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ishaku Monday, said it was still early in the day and expressed hope that more voters would arrive before polls close.
An agent for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) suggested the low participation may be linked to the fact that the election is limited to local council positions, which historically attract less interest than higher-profile national contests.
Registered voter numbers at the polling unit stood at 257, but as of mid-day on Saturday, only a small fraction had cast their ballots.
