INEC Declares APC's Joshua Ishaku Winner of Bwari Chairmanship Election with 18,466 Votes

 

In a significant development for the Federal Capital Territory's political landscape, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Joshua Ishaku of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the Bwari Area Council chairmanship election.3be358 The election, held on February 21, 2026, across 10 wards in Bwari—Igu, Shere, Dutse, Ushafa, Byazhin, Kuduru, Kubwa, Usuma, Bwari Central, and Kawu—saw Ishaku garner 18,466 votes, outpacing his closest rivals.828243

Professor Mohammed Nurudeen, the Returning Officer for the election, made the announcement on Sunday in Bwari. "I am the returning officer for the 2026 FCT Area Council Bwari chairmanship election held on Feb. 21, 2026. Joshua Ishaku, having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared the winner and is returned elected," Nurudeen stated during the declaration.3ca0d0 The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate came in second with 4,254 votes, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate secured third place with 3,515 votes.

Ishaku's victory comes just one week after a major legal win at the Supreme Court on February 16, 2026, which affirmed him as the legitimate APC candidate for the position.bb9f43 The apex court nullified a previous appellate court judgment that had recognized Haruna Audi as the candidate, upholding instead the dissenting opinion of Justice Okon Abang. This ruling directed INEC to publish Ishaku's name, paving the way for his participation and eventual triumph in the polls.

This result forms part of the broader 2026 FCT Area Council elections, where the APC has demonstrated strong performance, securing chairmanship seats in multiple councils including Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Kwali.851cba Reports from election observers, such as Yiaga Africa, noted challenges like delayed poll openings and varying voter turnout across the territory, though the process in Bwari proceeded without major incidents reported.

Ishaku's win is expected to bolster APC's influence in the FCT, focusing on local governance issues such as infrastructure development, security, and community services in Bwari. As the newly elected chairman, he will assume office amid ongoing national discussions on electoral reforms and grassroots democracy in Nigeria. No immediate statements from Ishaku or his opponents were available at the time of this report, but celebrations among APC supporters have already begun in the area.