By Gabriel Ameh, Abuja
To ensure the peaceful and secure conduct of the February 2026 Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has held a multi-stakeholder meeting on Election Risk Management in Abuja.
Delivering the keynote address, the National Commissioner in charge of the Planning and Monitoring Committee, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, noted that the engagement was designed to strengthen the Commission’s capacity to gather and analyse risk-related data for improved situational awareness ahead of the elections.
She expressed confidence that the exchange of election risk information among stakeholders, as envisioned in the workshop, would significantly enhance INEC’s risk mitigation efforts and provide preventive mechanisms capable of ensuring credible and peaceful Area Council elections.
In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the FCT and chief host of the event, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, emphasized that bringing critical stakeholders together to deliberate on election risk factors would help build the synergy needed to develop proactive strategies before, during, and after the polls.
The engagement featured paper presentations, group discussions, and a breakout session, culminating in the development of a high-level map identifying harmonized risk factors across the FCT.
The workshop, attended by INEC National Commissioner for the FCT, Malam Haruna Mohammed, brought together representatives from security agencies, civil society organizations, the media, and various electoral stakeholders, all united in their commitment to achieving a peaceful, credible, and well-coordinated 2026 Area Council Election.
