Tension Soars In Abaji As Hoodlums Halt Voting Mid-Process

Voting at A.U. Suleman II Polling Unit in Abaji South Ward was disrupted on Saturday during the 2026 Abaji Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory after suspected hoodlums snatched ballot papers, forcing a temporary halt to the exercise.

The incident occurred shortly after voting began around 9 a.m., creating confusion at the polling unit.

Assistant Presiding Officer I, Musa Ibrahim, told journalists that the attackers invaded the unit and stole two bundles of ballot papers. Each bundle contained 100 ballots, and 27 had already been used in the chairmanship and councillorship elections before the theft. The remaining papers were taken by the hoodlums.

Ibrahim noted that election officials, in coordination with security personnel on duty, managed to secure other sensitive and non-sensitive materials at the unit.

Attempts to resume voting were stalled due to disagreements among party agents, some of whom insisted that the stolen ballots must be recovered before proceeding.

“We calculated that about 73 ballots are missing. Since the BVAS has recorded the ones already used, elections could technically continue, and a detailed report will be submitted to address the issue.

“While some party agents agreed that the process should continue, others strongly opposed this, fearing the stolen ballots could be used to manipulate the results. We have therefore put the election on hold until 2:30 p.m., when voting is scheduled to close, and then we will count what remains and declare the results,” Ibrahim said, as quoted by NAN.

A witness, Musa Bashir, told The Cable that tensions among party agents escalated following a visit by the sitting council chairman to observe proceedings at the unit. He suggested the attack may have been intended to frustrate the chairman’s supporters, noting that the polling unit is considered a stronghold of the incumbent.

Bashir added that efforts by stakeholders to persuade party agents to allow voting to continue were unsuccessful.

NAN reported that stranded voters were seen sitting on the floor or standing around the polling area, anxiously waiting to see if the election would resume.