FCT: Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman Charges Staff on Credible Area Councils Election

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has urged staff of the Commission in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take full responsibility for the successful conduct of the February 21, 2026 Area Councils election.
The INEC Chairman gave the directive during a meeting with management and staff of the INEC FCT office as part of his readiness assessment visit ahead of Saturday’s poll.

He called on them to rebuild public trust in the electoral process through diligence, transparency, and strict compliance with the law.
He explained that by constitutional arrangement, the FCT holds the status of a state, making the Area Council election the only local government election conducted nationwide by INEC.
Prof. Amupitan urged staff to rise above personal interests and operate strictly within the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines.
He cautioned that false declarations and negligence of duty would attract legal sanctions.
On technology deployment, the INEC Chairman reiterated the Commission’s commitment to innovation in strengthening electoral integrity. He noted that since 2022, INEC has deployed the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) nationwide and expressed satisfaction with its performance during the recent mock accreditation exercise in the FCT.
He encouraged staff to maximise the use of technology and ensure proper reconciliation of results at the point of collation in accordance with the law, including cross-checking figures with accreditation data before final declaration.
Prof. Amupitan directed that all Registration Area Centres (RACs) be activated on Friday, February 20, with security personnel and vehicles stationed to guarantee smooth deployment of staff and materials.
According to him, ensuring that polling units are set up by 8:00 a.m. and that voting begins by 8:30 a.m. as scheduled would demonstrate seriousness of purpose and strengthen public confidence.
On security arrangements, he disclosed that the Commission had conducted a detailed risk assessment of the FCT and identified flashpoints in parts of Bwari, Gwagwalada, and Kuje Area Councils. He added that INEC was working closely with security agencies and the National Peace Committee to ensure adequate protection of personnel, voters, and election materials.
Reaffirming the Commission’s backing for the FCT office, the Chairman directed that all approved funds for the Area Council election be released without delay to facilitate seamless operations.
Earlier, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Aminu Idris, while briefing the Chairman on the level of preparedness, assured him that all non-sensitive materials had been distributed to the six Area Council offices.
He further stated that the Commission had requested additional support to ensure smooth conduct of the election and expressed optimism that the exact number of personnel to be deployed would be confirmed before the close of the day.