Joseph Bakare
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has charged staff of the Commission in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take full responsibility for the successful conduct of the 21st February 2026 Area Council election, urging them to restore public confidence in the electoral process through diligence, transparency and strict adherence to the law.
The INEC Chairman gave the charge on Monday, 16th February 2026, during a meeting with management and staff of the INEC FCT office held at the Area Council office in Abuja as part of his readiness assessment visit for the Saturday election.
Prof. Amupitan, who earlier took an assessment tour of the facilities in the FCT office, reminded staff that INEC is a creation of the Constitution with a clear mandate to conduct elections for specific offices, including the chairmen and councilors of the six Area Councils in the FCT. He noted that, by constitutional design, the FCT has the status of a state, making the Area Council election the only local government election conducted by INEC nationwide.
Describing elections as the lifeblood of democracy, the Chairman said the FCT poll presents another opportunity for the Commission to demonstrate professionalism and competence before Nigerians and the international community.
“Now it is your turn to showcase to the country and indeed the whole world what you can do,” he said, noting that both local and international observers would be monitoring the exercise closely.
He particularly addressed Electoral Officers (EOs), whom he described as the Commission’s representatives closest to the grassroots. According to him, many citizens may never meet the INEC Chairman but interact regularly with EOs, making their role critical to shaping public perception of the Commission.
“The success of this election rests largely on how you discharge your responsibilities,” he stated, adding that no amount of public relations would restore trust in the electoral process if actions on the field did not match the Commission’s guidelines and regulations.
Prof. Amupitan acknowledged that while Nigeria has one of the most robust electoral legal frameworks, public trust remains a challenge. He attributed this largely to human factors and called on staff to rise above personal interests and act strictly within the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines.
He reminded staff that ignorance of the law is not an excuse, stressing that election officials must be conversant with relevant provisions guiding accreditation, voting, collation and result management. He warned that false declarations and dereliction of duty attract legal consequences under the law.
The INEC Chairman disclosed that training of various categories of ad hoc staff, including presiding officers, collation officers and returning officers, was ongoing, with emphasis on compliance with procedures and the consequences of misconduct.
On the use of technology, Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to leveraging innovation to strengthen electoral integrity. He noted that since 2022, INEC has deployed the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) nationwide and expressed satisfaction with the performance of the devices during the recent mock accreditation exercise in the FCT.
He urged staff to use technology to the Commission’s advantage and ensure proper reconciliation of results at the point of collation in line with the law, including cross-checking figures with accreditation data before declaration.
The Chairman identified timely commencement of voting as a key benchmark for success in the forthcoming election. He directed that all Registration Area Centres (RACs) be activated on Friday, 20th February, with security personnel and vehicles in place to guarantee seamless deployment of personnel and materials.
According to him, if polling units are set up by 8:00 am and voting commences by 8:30 am as scheduled, it would signal seriousness of purpose and enhance public confidence.
He also emphasised the importance of proactive communication, directing that any challenge encountered on Election Day be reported promptly to the Commission rather than allowing misinformation to dominate media narratives. INEC, he stressed, must remain the primary source of information on electoral matters.
On security, Prof. Amupitan disclosed that the Commission had conducted a comprehensive risk analysis of the FCT and identified flashpoints in parts of Bwari, Gwagwalada and Kuje Area Councils. He said INEC was working closely with security agencies and the National Peace Committee to ensure adequate protection of personnel, voters and materials.
The Chairman further highlighted result management, peaceful conduct of the election and inclusivity, particularly for persons with disabilities, as additional indicators of success. He expressed optimism that issues such as ballot box snatching had largely been curtailed in Nigeria and urged staff to ensure that no form of electoral malpractice is recorded in the FCT.
Prof. Amupitan also addressed staff welfare, acknowledging the demanding nature of INEC’s responsibilities across all tiers of government. He disclosed that the Commission had commenced processes aimed at improving the welfare of staff, including work towards a special cadre for INEC personnel.
Reaffirming the Commission’s support for the FCT office, the Chairman directed that all approved funds for the Area Council election be released promptly to ensure seamless operations.
He concluded by urging staff to see the election as a personal and national responsibility.
“This is another test case for us. Let us get it right. There shall be no compromise,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Aminu Idris, provided an update on the state of preparedness for the Area Council Elections, assuring the Chairman that all non-sensitive materials had been deployed to the six area council offices.
We have received all the non-sensitive materials, which have been moved to the area council offices. Training of staff commenced on 13th – 15th February 2026 and we are conducting additional training today to address the shortfall in turnout, Mr. Idris stated.
He added that the Commission had requested additional support to ensure seamless execution of electoral activities and expressed optimism that by the end of the day, the exact number of staff to be deployed for the election would be ascertained.
Delivering a vote of thanks, the Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, expressed gratitude to the INEC Chairman for the visit and urged staff to take his charge seriously.
INEC is one. Let us continue to work together as one, give our best, and make sacrifices for Nigeria, she said.
Mrs. Oladunjoye also acknowledged the dedication of FCT staff and called for continued synergy among all departments to ensure the success of the Area Council Elections.