The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has assured stakeholders that results of Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections will be transmitted electronically to the INEC Result Viewing (I-REV) portal, in line with the newly signed Electoral Act 2026.
Amupitan gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, stating that the commission is fully prepared to conduct a transparent and credible poll.
A total of 1,680,315 registered voters are expected to participate in the election, which will take place in 2,822 polling units across the six area councils of the FCT—Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.
Security agencies have announced a 12-hour restriction of movement from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day. About 11,873 officials will supervise the exercise.
No fewer than 570 candidates will contest for chairmanship and vice-chairmanship positions, alongside 62 councillorship seats across 68 constituencies.
Amupitan reiterated INEC’s commitment to transparency, noting that credible elections require collective responsibility. He disclosed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has been upgraded and will be deployed in all polling units for voter accreditation, with results uploaded to the I-REV portal in accordance with established procedures.
He added that all BVAS devices, including those designated for 195 split polling units and an additional five per cent backup, have been tested and fully charged. A mock accreditation exercise conducted in 289 polling units across the FCT, he said, produced satisfactory results.
Polling units are expected to open promptly at 8:30 a.m.
The INEC chairman warned against vote buying, stressing that the commission is working closely with the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure offenders are arrested and prosecuted.
He also reminded stakeholders that the FCT Area Council election remains the only local government poll conducted by INEC and has over time become a benchmark for elections conducted by State Independent Electoral Commissions.
Amupitan urged candidates and party leaders to caution their supporters to abide by the rules and allow the will of the people to prevail.
Bwari PDP Candidate Withdraws
In a related development, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate for Bwari Area Council, Julius Adamu, stepped down from the race and declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Joshua Musa.
Adamu said his decision followed consultations and was influenced by interventions from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. He described Musa as a brother and urged his supporters to back the APC candidate.
Wike, addressing residents of Bwari, promised more road projects in the area if Musa emerges victorious and encouraged voters to turn out in large numbers to support him.
Police Announce Movement Restriction
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller Dantawaye, directed officers deployed for the election to maintain professionalism and ensure adequate security at polling units and collation centres.
In a statement by the Command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, residents were informed of the movement restriction across the FCT from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on February 21, 2026, except for essential service providers and election officials.
Residents were urged to comply with security directives, remain law-abiding, and report any suspicious activities to designated emergency numbers.
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