Abuja News February 21, 2026 Wike decries poor voter participation in FCT council polls

 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed concern over the low turnout recorded in the ongoing Area Council Elections across the FCT.

Wike, who visited several polling units, engaged with electoral officers to assess the situation on the ground.

At one of the polling units in Karshi, the minister encountered a handful of election officials but no voters present.

After exchanging pleasantries, Wike asked: ”How is the turnout?”, to which the ad-hoc official, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), said: ”We have only about 10 percent of registered voters who came out to vote.”

The minister further asked: ”Only 10 percent? When are you supposed to start counting?”

”By 2:30pm, sir,” the corps member responded, to which Wike said: ”Hopefully there will be another 20 percent.”

Earlier, Dr. Moses Paul, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), attributed the low turnout to the restriction of movement.

He said the turnout was far lower than expected and attributed it to what he described as confusion created by the restriction directive.

According to him, he had lived in AMAC for about 40 years and had never witnessed such a situation, noting that the development appeared like “a state of emergency” over what he considered unwarranted.

Abuja News February 21, 2026 (JUST IN) FCT polls : ADC secures first victory over APC

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has secured its first polling unit win against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the ongoing Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The contest, marked by low voter turnout in several locations, saw the opposition coalition emerge victorious at polling unit 076, Sani Abacha Estate, Wuse Zone 4. The unit is where Dr. Moses Paul, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) candidate, voted.

Out of 10 ballots cast at the unit, ADC secured seven votes, while APC garnered two. One ballot was declared invalid.

Earlier in the day, Paul alleged that agents of his party were being intimidated and linked the low turnout to movement restrictions announced by the FCT Minister.

He said the turnout was far lower than expected and attributed it to what he described as confusion created by the restriction directive.

He said he had lived in AMAC for about 40 years and had never witnessed such a situation, noting that the development appeared like “a state of emergency” over what he considered unwarranted.

He said although electoral officials at his polling unit were professional and followed due process, reports reaching him indicated that ADC agents in Takum Shara and parts of Kabusa ward, including Dogongada and Shereti, were allegedly threatened and intimidated.

He added that some agents were allegedly told they would be maimed or killed, and noted that such actions were aimed at suppressing voters and influencing the process in favour of the ruling party.

He said vote buying was criminal and alleged that it was ongoing in parts of the capital city.

He added that despite the challenges, he remained confident of emerging victorious, noting that the will of the people would prevail and urging Nigerians to resist intimidation and demand accountable leadership.

(DAILY TRUST)

Crime News February 21, 2026 Angry mob attacks DSS operative during FCT elections

 

An operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) narrowly avoided being lynched by a group of more than 50 youths at the Junior Secondary School, Kayada polling station in Kuje during the ongoing FCT Area Council elections.

The youths reportedly accused the DSS operative of filming and taking photographs at a spot where vote buying and selling were allegedly taking place. He was subsequently manhandled for over five minutes

Visibly shaken and dishevelled, the officer was eventually released. Although his handset was damaged in the scuffle, he was able to recover his wallet, which had earlier been taken from him.

Notably, no security personnel were present to intervene as the incident unfolded. Throughout the ordeal, the operative was left pleading with the youths to spare his life while enduring the assault.

Speaking shortly before departing the scene on a motorcycle, the operative lamented that although the youths confiscated his accreditation card, he was fortunate to escape with his life, handset and wallet intact.

(SUN).

News World February 21, 2026 Trump moves to suspend work permits for asylum seekers indefinitely

 

United States President, Donald Trump, has unveiled a proposal that could halt the issuance of work permits to asylum seekers for years, marking what could become one of the most far-reaching adjustments to asylum-related employment policy in decades.

The proposed rule, released on Friday by the US Department of Homeland Security, aims to suspend new work authorisations for asylum applicants until average processing times for specified asylum cases fall to 180 days or fewer.

According to current backlog data, the department projects that reaching that target could take anywhere between 14 and 173 years.

Nevertheless, DHS indicated that administrative reforms and efficiency-driven measures might help accelerate the process.

In a statement, DHS said the rule, if finalised, “would reduce the incentive to file frivolous, fraudulent, or otherwise meritless asylum claims.”

It added that employment authorisation “is not an entitlement” but is granted at the discretion of the DHS secretary.

If implemented, the proposal would generally prevent migrants who entered the United States unlawfully from securing new work permits or renewing existing ones.

However, limited exemptions would apply to individuals who informed US border authorities within 48 hours of arrival that they feared persecution, torture, or had another urgent reason for crossing illegally.

The measure forms part of a broader immigration clampdown by the Trump administration aimed at curbing both documented and undocumented migration.

Trump, a Republican who returned to office in 2025, campaigned on a platform that portrayed immigrants and asylum seekers as criminals and economic burdens on U.S. communities, assertions that critics argue are not supported by evidence.

Immigrant advocacy organisations and some Democratic lawmakers have faulted the administration’s strict immigration stance, arguing that it weakens established U.S. and international asylum protections.

The proposal will be subject to a 60-day public comment period once it is formally published in the Federal Register on Monday.
The regulatory procedure could stretch over several months or even years before any final decision is reached, with legal challenges widely anticipated.

Abuja News February 21, 2026 FCT polls : ADC candidate alleges intimidation, gives reason for low turnout in AMAC

 

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) chairmanship candidate for Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Dr. Moses Paul, on Saturday alleged that party agents were intimidated during the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections, attributing the low voter turnout in parts of the council to movement restrictions.

Addressing journalists at his polling unit, Paul observed that turnout was far below expectations.

He said the development stemmed from what he described as uncertainty caused by the directive restricting movement.

The candidate, who disclosed that he has resided in AMAC for about 40 years, said he had never experienced such a situation before, likening it to “a state of emergency” over what he regarded as unnecessary.

Despite his concerns, Paul praised officials at his polling unit for their professionalism and strict compliance with due process.

However, he said information available to him suggested that ADC agents in Takum Shara and sections of Kabusa Ward — particularly Dogongada and Shereti — were allegedly subjected to threats and intimidation.

He further condemned vote-buying, describing it as a criminal offence, and alleged that the practice was occurring in parts of the capital.

“Despite the challenges, I remain confident of emerging victorious. The will of the people will prevail. Nigerians should resist intimidation and demand accountable leadership,” he said.

Crime News February 21, 2026 Sokoto : Bandits strike near security checkpoints, kill one in late-night raid

 

Residents of Tangaza Town in Sokoto State were gripped by fear late Friday night after armed bandits launched a brazen attack just metres away from multiple security checkpoints in the area.

The incident, which occurred at about 11:00 p.m., reportedly took place near posts operated by the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Customs Service, as well as a police bomb squad unit stationed close to Tangaza General Hospital.

According to a report by security analyst Bakatsine on Saturday, the attackers shot and killed Yahaya Alhassan, popularly known as Gurmu. His associate, Bello BMT, sustained gunshot injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Tangaza General Hospital.

The daring nature of the assault, carried out within close proximity to security formations, has further heightened concerns about the persistent insecurity plaguing communities in the eastern flank of Sokoto State.

Residents described scenes of chaos as gunshots rang out, forcing families to remain indoors through the night. The development has renewed questions about the effectiveness of security deployments in the border town.

Tangaza Local Government Area shares a boundary with the Republic of Niger and has, in recent years, witnessed repeated incursions by armed groups operating across porous borders. Sokoto State, alongside neighbouring Zamfara and Kebbi states, remains one of the epicentres of banditry in Nigeria’s North-West, despite sustained military and police operations aimed at curbing the menace.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the security agencies nor the Sokoto State Government had issued an official statement regarding the attack.

Entertainment News February 21, 2026 Peller narrowly escapes as fire guts Lagos residence

 

Nigerian TikTok sensation and streamer, Habeeb Hamzat, popularly known as Peller, has escaped a fire incident involving his generator.

The social media influencer disclosed the incident in a post shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, where he uploaded a video capturing the early morning blaze.

In the footage, flames were seen engulfing the generator as Peller, who was visibly distressed, repeatedly called for help to assist in putting out the fire.

The fire, however, was eventually contained after what appeared to be prolonged efforts using buckets of water.

The generator was destroyed, while the house and occupants were spared.

Fans and followers flooded the comment section with messages of relief, attributing the outcome to quick intervention and luck.

The video also circulated across other social platforms, drawing safety concerns from viewers.

As of the time of filing this report, the cause of the fire could not be independently verified.

The incident comes months after Peller survived a separate scare on the Lekki–Epe Expressway.

During that episode, which unfolded in a widely shared livestream, the influencer was seen driving his Mercedes-Benz while visibly emotional.

The broadcast, titled “RIP Peller,” triggered concern after he made a series of distressing remarks.

In the video, Peller appeared agitated during a phone conversation believed to involve his girlfriend, amid speculation about their relationship.

At several moments, he expressed fear and made statements that alarmed viewers before crashing the vehicle into a roadside object.