By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
The 2026 Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory stumbled out of the gate Saturday morning as uncertainty, empty grounds and a worrying security vacuum defined the early hours at LEA Dagbabna Primary School, Polling Unit 115, Registration Area 10, LGA 06.
At exactly 7:49am, election officials were still struggling to erect the polling cubicle while sensitive materials lay neatly arranged inside a classroom, untouched, unguarded and awaiting both voters and protection.
Presiding officers, busy with paperwork and documentation, confirmed that electoral materials had arrived complete and intact.
But readiness on paper did not translate to readiness on the ground
.
Forms were being signed, registers cross-checked and procedures reviewed, yet accreditation could not begin.
There was one simple reason:
no voters.
The compound remained unusually quiet, no queues, no campaign chatter, no early-morning political tension typical of election day.
More troubling was what wasn’t present.
As officials handled ballot materials, no police officers or security personnel were at the unit.
No perimeter guard.
No patrol presence.
No protective detail.
Party agents were also absent.
For a critical stage of the voting process before accreditation the polling unit was effectively exposed.
Electoral officers expressed confidence turnout would improve once accreditation commenced, but residents of the surrounding community had yet to appear.
Under the rising Abuja sun, the scene remained frozen in anticipation:
Ballot papers ready.
Officials present.
Booth complete.
Security missing.
Voters absent.
For now, as at filling this report Dagbabna polling unit, election day had technically begun
but democracy had not yet shown up.
