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By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja: With the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections set for Saturday, 21 February 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a firm warning against vote buying and selling, vowing strict enforcement of the law.
INEC has directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to deploy personnel to polling units across the FCT to monitor and prevent electoral malpractice.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, made the announcement during a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja with political party leaders, candidates, security agencies, civil society groups, media representatives, and development partners.
“Vote trading undermines the sanctity of the ballot and erodes public confidence in democratic institutions. It must not be tolerated,” Amupitan emphasized. He clarified that INEC does not support any political party or candidate, and its sole responsibility is to provide a fair and transparent electoral process.
He urged party leaders and candidates to ensure their supporters act responsibly and respect the rules, allowing the will of the people to prevail.
The Chairman highlighted the scale of the election: 1,680,315 registered voters will cast ballots in 2,822 polling units across the FCT’s six Area Councils — Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. A total of 570 candidates are contesting 68 constituencies for Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, and 62 Councilorship seats.
Amupitan reassured stakeholders that security agencies must remain professional and impartial, political parties should act responsibly, the media must report accurately, and observers are expected to stay objective.
“The collective duty is to ensure votes are cast freely, counted accurately, and reflected transparently. Let us raise the bar and consolidate the FCT’s standing as a model for local government elections in Nigeria,” he said.
This upcoming election, the only local government poll conducted by INEC, continues to serve as a benchmark for credibility in grassroots democracy across Nigeria.
