The Peoples Democratic Party has secured victory in the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election following the conclusion of the Federal Capital Territory’s local government polls.
Mohammed Kasim, the party’s flagbearer, was declared winner after collating the votes from Saturday’s election. The Returning Officer appointed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Philip Akpen, announced the outcome in the early hours of Sunday, stating that Kasim polled 22,165 votes.
His closest challenger, Yahaya Shehu of the All Progressives Congress, scored 17,788 votes, while Biko Umar of the All Progressives Grand Alliance finished third with 1,687 votes.
Akpen described the exercise as orderly and peaceful, noting that electoral procedures were followed throughout the process. He subsequently returned Kasim elected after confirming that all legal requirements had been met.
According to official figures, Gwagwalada Area Council recorded 207,577 registered voters, with 46,294 accredited to vote. A total of 43,960 valid votes were cast, while 1,521 ballots were rejected.
The Gwagwalada poll formed part of the wider FCT local government elections conducted across the six area councils – Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali where voters chose chairmen and councillors.
