Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Police to be on guard in a bid to arrest the menace of vote buying and ‘vote trading in the country.

Speaking when a delegation from the National Peace Committee visited him, Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed the commission’s resolve to curb the menace, revealing that relevant law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies have been placed on alert and must play their role

He said, “We specifically charged the Nigeria Police, the EFCC, and also the ICPC to be on guard so that we can arrest the menace of vote buying and what some people call ‘vote trading.”

He said the Commission will take immediate steps to act on security intelligence and risk assessments presented to it by the National Peace Committee ahead of the February 21st, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections.

While describing the presentation by the Committee as timely and valuable, the INEC Chairman said the information provided would be carefully reviewed and shared with relevant security agencies for necessary action.

He said, “You have presented to us a very great piece of information. We are not going to take it for granted. We are going to be sharing this with our security department so that we can at least take this information and take the necessary steps that we are supposed to take”.

He said the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) would receive “special scrutiny and attention,” alongside Bwari and Kuje Area Councils, based on the concerns raised.

Prof Amupitan described the Peace Accord signed by parties before elections as a social contract that binds political actors to peaceful conduct and acceptance of election outcomes, adding that activities in 2026 are critical to the Commission’s broader preparations for the 2027 General Election.

He told the committee that, “It regards 2026 as our preparatory year for the 2027 general election”.

Leader of the delegation, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, apologized for the delay in formally engaging with the new leadership of the Commission and pledged the Committee’s continued collaboration and strategic support.

“We want to assure the new INEC Chairman that the National Peace Committee is available, open and accessible to working with the Commission—ensuring that the elections that will happen, the Area Council elections, the governorship elections, future state elections, ahead of the 2027 general elections—we are fully behind the Commission to give the Commission all the necessary support and strategic guidance that will be required,” he said.

Rev. Fr. Barkindo disclosed that the Committee’s Election Security and Information Hub, launched last year, has developed networks and field agents across the states to gather data on insecurity, violence, and conflict trends. He emphasized that the Committee’s interventions are evidence-based and guided strictly by verified data rather than sentiment or partisan considerations.

The National Peace Committee said it identified Abuja Municipal Area Councils (AMAC), Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Kuje Area Councils as possible hotspots requiring heightened vigilance.

The Peace Committee said its findings revealed that AMAC recorded high tendencies for vote buying and threats among political actors, flagging Gwagwalada over indigene-settler tensions and a history of political thuggery, with specific reference to the Jiwa community.

It said that the Bwari Area Council is particularly sensitive to farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping incidents, and areas with limited security presence, while identifying Kwali as vulnerable due to the security situation in adjoining states.

The Committee explained that its data collection framework focuses on two streams: incidents of election-related violence that may occur before Election Day but could affect the electoral process, and an electoral offence tracking mechanism aligned with the provisions of the Peace Accord. (The Nation)

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