Nigeria, Feb. 20 -- As residents of Nigeria's capital head to the polls on Saturday to elect leaders for the six area councils for the next four years, many may not fully understand what is at stake or the implications of their ballots for governance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

While presidential and National Assembly elections often dominate public discourse in Abuja, council elections typically receive far less attention. Yet, these polls determine those who oversee primary healthcare centres, rural roads, markets, sanitation systems, motor parks, and community development initiatives across the FCT.

In practical terms, these elections shape the everyday realities of residents more directly than other elections, whether pr...