TDThe Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has assured residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of a peaceful, transparent and credible Area Council election.
The election is scheduled for Saturday, 21 February 2026.
Speaking at a high‑level stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, Prof. Amupitan issued a firm warning that vote buying will not be tolerated.
He outlined measures INEC and security partners are deploying to protect the integrity of the poll.
Scale and Logistics of the Poll
- Registered voters: Over 1.6 million.
- Polling units: 2,822 across the FCT.
- Contests: 570 candidates vying for 68 seats.
- Technology: BVAS (Biometric Voter Accreditation System) will be deployed in all polling units, with results uploaded to IReV (INEC Results Viewing portal).
- Observers and media: 89 accredited observer groups and 700 journalists have been cleared to monitor the process.
Enforcement and Anti‑Corruption Measures
Prof. Amupitan said elections are a shared responsibility and stressed that INEC has no preferred candidate.
To deter and punish vote buying and related offences, the Commission confirmed that multiple security and anti‑corruption agencies will be on the ground, including:
- Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) — to investigate and act on financial inducements;
- Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) — to support anti‑corruption enforcement;
- Other security agencies — to maintain public order and protect voters and election officials.
Amupitan warned that anyone caught attempting to buy votes or intimidate voters would face arrest and prosecution under existing electoral and criminal laws.
Safeguards for Transparency and Credibility
INEC outlined several safeguards intended to strengthen transparency and public confidence:
- Full BVAS deployment to ensure biometric accreditation and reduce impersonation.
- Real‑time result transmission via IReV to provide public access to polling‑unit results.
- Wide observer presence to provide independent verification and rapid reporting of irregularities.
- Media accreditation to ensure broad coverage and public scrutiny.
INEC also urged political parties, candidates, and their agents to cooperate with officials at polling units and to report any attempts at inducement or coercion immediately.
What Voters Should Know
- Bring valid voter identification and arrive early to avoid congestion.
- Remain at the polling unit after voting to witness accreditation, counting, and transmission of results where possible.
- Report incidents of vote buying, intimidation, or equipment failure to INEC officials, accredited observers, or security personnel on site.
- Do not accept money or gifts in exchange for votes; accepting inducements may be evidence in criminal investigations.
Implications and Next Steps
INEC’s public warning and the presence of anti‑corruption agencies signal a heightened enforcement posture for the FCT Area Council election.
Observers will be watching closely to see whether the combination of technology, accredited monitors, and law‑enforcement presence reduces reported incidents of vote buying and other malpractice.
Any significant disruptions or credible allegations of widespread inducement could prompt immediate investigations and prosecutions.
