BWARI, Nigeria — Electoral officials in Bwari Area Council idled through much of Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory elections as registered voters shunned polling stations. In some units, not a single ballot was cast by late afternoon, prompting concerns over the vote’s legitimacy.

At Polling Unit 018 in Kuduru ward, in front of Naza Pharmacy opposite the Emir’s residence, zero voters appeared out of 159 registered by 2:30 p.m., when polls closed. Officials stood by empty tables, scanning the empty street.

The pattern repeated at LEA Primary School in Dutse Buapma, behind Shafa Filling Station. Polling Unit 059 logged just 60 ballots from 1,911 voters by 2:00 p.m. Nearby, Polling Unit 057 tallied slightly more than 60 out of 602. Polling Unit 055 fared worst: zero votes from 750 registered, leaving staff asleep at their posts.

"I’ve been here since morning, but people just aren’t coming," one official at Polling Unit 055 said, speaking anonymously. "We’re ready, but there’s no one to vote."

Over at LEA Primary School in Bmuko 1, disengagement persisted. Polling Unit 058 drew 82 voters from 501. Polling Unit 054 counted 127 out of 776 by 2:29 p.m. Technical glitches compounded the issues. An elderly woman, ready to be the last voter at a Bmuko unit, got turned away when the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System failed to read her fingerprints, though it captured her face.

By late afternoon, INEC officials began sorting and counting ballots under the watchful eyes of party agents. Agents warned against any voting extensions.

Residents pinned the boycott on a recent Supreme Court ruling. The court upheld Joshua Ishaku as the All Progressives Congress chairmanship candidate for Bwari, sidelining rival Haruna Audi Shekwolo.

Mrs. Gloria Bello, a Bwari town resident, said the decision drove supporters away. "Haruna Audi Shekwolo is the most popular here. His last-minute displacement means our choice got taken. That’s why many stayed home."

The low turnout mirrored earlier voting in Abuja Municipal Area Council, where participation also lagged. INEC has not released official figures for Bwari yet. Party agents monitored counts closely, guarding against irregularities.

Election observers noted the apathy could undermine results. Officials expressed frustration but pressed on with the limited ballots cast. Sorting continued into the evening at affected schools and open spaces.