Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has assured residents of the Federal Capital Territory of a peaceful, transparent and credible Area Council election scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, stating that preparations for the poll are at an advanced stage.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, Prof. Amupitan described the forthcoming election as a shared civic responsibility that extends beyond the Commission to include political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, the media and voters. While noting that INEC is constitutionally mandated to conduct elections, he stressed that the credibility of the process depends on collective restraint, cooperation and adherence to the rule of law.
The INEC Chairman disclosed that 1,680,315 registered voters are expected to cast ballots across 2,822 polling units in the six Area Councils of Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. A total of 570 candidates are contesting 68 constituencies, covering Chairmanship, Vice-Chairmanship and 62 Councillorship positions. He emphasised that the FCT Area Council election remains the only local government poll conducted directly by INEC, underscoring its constitutional significance.
According to Prof. Amupitan, 11 of the 13 activities outlined in the Commission’s electoral timetable have been completed. The remaining milestones include the formal end of campaigns at midnight on Thursday, February 19, and the conduct of the election on Saturday. He added that the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards concluded on February 10, with 106,099 cards collected during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, reflecting what he described as encouraging voter engagement.
To enhance transparency, INEC has accredited 89 domestic and international observer groups as well as 700 journalists drawn from 72 media organisations to monitor and report on the election. The Commission confirmed that the upgraded Bimodal Voter Accreditation System will be deployed in all polling units, with polling unit results uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal to facilitate public access and transparency. A mock accreditation exercise conducted in 289 polling units, he said, yielded satisfactory outcomes.
Logistical arrangements have also been strengthened. INEC has secured 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles and 14 boats to ensure timely deployment of personnel and materials on Election Day. Polling units are expected to open promptly at 8:30 a.m., with officials directed to adhere strictly to operational guidelines to prevent delays.
Prof. Amupitan reiterated that the Commission has no preferred candidate or political party and warned against vote trading. He disclosed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission will deploy operatives to monitor and apprehend individuals involved in vote buying or related electoral offences. He described such practices as corrosive to democratic integrity and pledged that offenders would face consequences under the law.
In his welcome address, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Aminu Kasimu Idris, noted that preparations for the poll began on January 22, 2025, with the monitoring of party primaries, publication of candidates’ particulars and display of the voter register. He explained that the register is being re-displayed at polling units to assist voters in confirming their locations, an intervention designed to address challenges encountered during previous elections due to voter migration.
National Commissioner supervising the FCT, Mallam Muhammad Kuku Haruna, described the forum as one of the final engagements before Election Day. He revealed that the Commission conducted on-the-spot assessments in Gwagwalada, Kuje and Bwari Area Councils and expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness observed. He reiterated the constitutional importance of the FCT poll, noting that it has remained under INEC’s purview since 1999.
Representatives of political parties and civil society organisations used the forum to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful participation. The Inter-Party Advisory Council in the FCT commended INEC’s transparency and pledged that parties would caution supporters against violence or electoral misconduct.
The FCT Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Ateli Samson, assured stakeholders that corps members serving as ad hoc staff have undergone comprehensive training and would be closely supervised to ensure professionalism and efficiency on Election Day.
Security arrangements were also outlined at the forum. Commissioner of Police, Miller G. Dantawaye of the FCT Police Command, announced a large-scale deployment of security personnel across polling units and strategic locations. He confirmed that security agencies have conducted stakeholder engagements and operational planning sessions, including visits to identified flashpoints, to mitigate potential risks. Residents were encouraged to exercise their franchise without fear, with assurances that rapid response mechanisms are in place.
The stakeholders’ meeting concluded with an interactive session during which participants sought clarifications on logistics, security coordination and result transmission. Shortly afterward, Prof. Amupitan and members of the Commission proceeded to a session of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to harmonise final security strategies ahead of Saturday’s vote.
As Abuja prepares for the Area Council elections, attention will focus on voter turnout, the effectiveness of logistics and the conduct of political actors. For INEC and security agencies, the exercise represents both a constitutional obligation and a test of institutional capacity to deliver a credible grassroots democratic process in the nation’s capital.
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