The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System will be deployed in all polling units for Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, while results will be uploaded to the Result Viewing Portal to enhance transparency.
Naija News reports that the commission disclosed this on Wednesday at a high-level stakeholders’ forum in Abuja.
The Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), outlined the commission’s level of preparedness and reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, transparent and credible process.
He said operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission would be deployed to deter vote trading and other electoral offences.
“Any individual found buying or selling votes will be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law,” Amupitan said.
He added that 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles and 14 boats would be deployed to ensure seamless movement of personnel and materials, stressing that there must be no logistical lapses on election day.
Reiterating the commission’s neutrality, Amupitan said, “INEC does not have a political party and does not have a preferred candidate. Our mandate is clear: to provide the enabling environment for residents of the Federal Capital Territory to freely choose their representatives.”
He called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and urged security agencies to remain professional and impartial.
INEC has fixed February 21, 2026, for the election into the six area councils of the FCT.
According to Punch, 2,822 polling units have been designated across the FCT, with four officials, one Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers assigned to each unit.
With 2,822 polling units and four officials per unit, the commission is expected to deploy no fewer than 11,288 ad hoc personnel for the exercise.
Voting will take place in 2,822 polling units, supported by 3,345 BVAS devices to facilitate accreditation and result transmission.
An INEC official who spoke with the platform disclosed that sensitive materials, including ballot papers, BVAS machines and result sheets, would undergo thorough checks on Wednesday and be moved to the councils’ offices on Thursday.
Another official said early deployment was aimed at enhancing the electoral process and preventing delays on election day to ensure a seamless voting experience.
Amupitan added that 89 observer groups and 700 journalists had been accredited to monitor the polls.
Police Impose Movement Restrictions
Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command has announced a restriction of movement across the territory from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on election day.
In a statement, the command’s spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the deployment was part of a comprehensive operational order involving the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The statement read, “The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has deployed personnel across the FCT as part of its comprehensive operational order for the February 21, 2026, FCT Area Council Elections.
“The public is hereby informed that there will be a restriction of movement across the FCT from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on February 21, 2026, except for essential service providers and election officials.”
Adeh urged residents to cooperate with security personnel and comply with guidelines, assuring voters of adequate protection.
She said the Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, had directed officers to remain professional, impartial and courteous.
“He further warned that officers must remain vigilant, impartial, and courteous in the discharge of their duties, while respecting the rights of all citizens,” she added.
A total of 17 political parties have fielded 637 candidates to contest 68 elective positions across 62 wards in the FCT, with 1,680,315 registered voters expected to participate.
The elections will be conducted in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji, where chairmen and councillors will be elected.
