Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested 20 suspects for alleged electoral offences during the just-concluded Federal Capital Territory (FCT) local government elections, recovering more than N20 million suspected to be earmarked for vote buying.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Sunday, the anti-graft agency disclosed that the arrests were carried out on Saturday, February 21, 2026, across various area councils in the FCT.
According to the commission, the suspects were apprehended in Abaji (2), Gwagwalada (9), Kuje (4) and Kwali (4), for offences ranging from vote buying and vote selling to obstruction of electoral officers.
The suspects were arrested across the FCT for offences ranging from vote buying, vote selling to obstruction of officers to the tune of N17,218,700,” the statement read.
The EFCC further revealed that one suspect was found with N13.5 million in a vehicle parked beside a polling unit in Kwali Area Council.
The commission stated that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
The February 21 elections were conducted across the six FCT area councils Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) amid reports of inducement at some polling units.
Election observers, including the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), documented instances of cash inducements ranging from ₦1,000 to ₦5,000 per voter, particularly in Gwagwalada and Kuje.
Results declared on Sunday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) winning five of the six chairmanship seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured one.
