With only days remaining until the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a stern warning against electoral malpractice, specifically targeting the “menace” of vote buying.
Speaking at a high-level stakeholders’ forum in the nation’s capital, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, assured residents that the Commission is fully prepared to deliver a peaceful, transparent, and credible exercise this Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Preparedness and Logistics
Prof. Amupitan revealed that the logistics for the massive exercise are already in motion. Over 1.6 million registered voters are expected to exercise their franchise across 2,822 polling units. The stakes are high, with 570 candidates vying for 68 available seats across the six Area Councils.
The Chairman emphasized that the responsibility for a successful election does not rest solely on the Commission, urging candidates and supporters to maintain decorum.
“Elections are a shared responsibility, and I want to state categorically that INEC has no preferred candidate,” Prof. Amupitan declared. “Our only interest is the integrity of the process and the will of the people.”
Technology and Transparency
To ensure the sanctity of the ballot, INEC confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed in every polling unit. In a push for real-time transparency, all results will be uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as they are announced at the units.
The process will be under heavy scrutiny, with the Commission officially accrediting, 89 observer groups (local and international) and 700 journalists to provide live coverage and monitoring.
Security and Anti-Corruption Measures
Addressing concerns regarding electoral fraud, Prof. Amupitan noted that security agencies are on high alert. Crucially, operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will be deployed to polling centers to identify and arrest anyone attempting to influence voters with cash or gifts.
The Chairman concluded by reassuring the public that the synergy between INEC and security agencies will ensure a safe environment for voters to come out and cast their ballots without fear of intimidation.
