By Muhammad Mamman
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Mohammed Kasim of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The announcement, made by the returning officer following the collation of results from across the area council, confirmed Kasim’s victory after securing a decisive lead over his closest rival.
According to the final results released by INEC, the PDP candidate polled 22,165 votes to defeat the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 17,788 votes. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) received 1,687 votes, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) secured 1,336 votes.
Kasim’s margin of victory underscores the PDP’s strong showing in Gwagwalada, one of the six area councils in Nigeria’s capital territory. The outcome is seen as a significant boost for the party’s grassroots influence in the FCT ahead of broader political realignments expected in the coming months.
The election was conducted amid heightened political interest, with observers noting competitive campaigns and voter turnout across several wards. While the APC mounted a strong challenge, the PDP maintained a consistent lead in key polling units, ultimately translating into a comfortable aggregate advantage.
INEC officials stated that the exercise was conducted in line with electoral guidelines, with results collated transparently at designated centres.
With the declaration, Mohammed Kasim is set to assume leadership of the Gwagwalada Area Council, marking a new chapter in the administration of one of the FCT’s largest and most politically active councils.
