The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared Friday, February 20, 2026, a public holiday.
This move is intended to ensure a seamless voting process for the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21.
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister, announced this in a statement issued on Thursday.
“With the approval of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I hereby declare Friday, February 20, 2026, as a work free day to enable movement of residents to their various communities to participate in the elections,” Olayinka quotes the Minister as saying.
Olayinka further detailed the additional security measure approved by the President.
“Similarly, the President has approved the restriction of movement within the FCT from 8pm of Friday, February 20 to 6pm of Saturday, February 21, 2026,” he stated, adding that all security agencies are directed to ensure strict compliance with the directive.
The move is intended to provide residents with enough time to reach their polling units and vote without difficulty, ensuring an orderly process throughout the FCT’s six Area Councils.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is prepared to conduct the elections for both chairmanship and councillorship seats in the area councils.
To support the exercise, the FCT Administration has stressed the need for peaceful and responsible conduct to help bolster local governance across the territory.
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