As political campaigns intensify across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the February 2026 elections, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chairmanship candidate for Gwagwalada Area Council, Chief Ezekiel Umar Biko, has warned candidates of various political parties against engaging in vote buying and electoral violence.
By Cyril Mbah, Abuja
As political campaigns intensify across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the February 2026 elections, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chairmanship candidate for Gwagwalada Area Council, Chief Ezekiel Umar Biko, has warned candidates of various political parties against engaging in vote buying and electoral violence.
Speaking in an exclusive interview in Gwagwalada, Umar Biko alleged that some candidates and their agents have begun collecting voter cards from unsuspecting citizens in exchange for as much as ₦20,000, a move he described as a dangerous attempt to manipulate the electoral process.
He further revealed that a certain political party had openly boasted of setting aside billions of naira for vote buying on election day, and he called on anti-corruption agencies to act swiftly to prevent any plot to compromise the credibility of the polls.
“Even as we campaign, a lot of illegal activities are happening in the field. It is left for the relevant government agencies to ensure that voters are allowed to exercise their rights freely, without interference from desperate politicians,” he said.
“If you claim to be popular, why buy votes? Why not test your popularity at the polls? The greed for power is driving many politicians to engage in electoral malpractice and violence.”
Umar Biko urged voters to resist the temptation of selling their votes or voter cards, warning that doing so amounts to “selling their future for a pittance.” He noted that vote buying often leads to poor governance, as such politicians feel no obligation to perform once elected.
Expressing confidence in his party’s chances, the APGA candidate declared that the party would reclaim Gwagwalada, noting that APGA had once governed the council successfully.
“I deliberately chose APGA because of its people-oriented philosophy. The structures are still strong, and the people love the party. We are ready to return to office and deliver results,” he stated.
Umar Biko promised to transform Gwagwalada through agricultural development, industrial growth, and youth empowerment if elected. He pledged to rehabilitate neglected roads and ensure that every ward has access to pipe-borne water within his first 100 days in office.
He appealed to residents to elect young, visionary leaders who can drive real development rather than politicians who “buy votes with ₦2,000 or ₦5,000 and disappear for four years with nothing to show.”