The Independent National Electoral Commission has said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems would be deployed in all polling units for the Federal Capital Territory area councils election, while results would be uploaded to the Result Viewing portal to enhance transparency.

This was disclosed by the Chairman of the electoral commission, Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN), at a high-level stakeholders’ forum on Wednesday.

At the stakeholders’ forum, Amupitan outlined the commission’s preparations for the polls and reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful, transparent and credible process.

He specifically noted that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission would be on the ground 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 facilitate the movement of personnel and materials, stressing that there must be no logistical lapses on election day.

Amupitan noted that INEC remained neutral in the contest.

“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 said.

Amupitan called on political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, while urging security agencies to remain professional and impartial throughout the exercise.

This comes as the commission is set to deploy no fewer than 11,288 ad hoc personnel for Saturday’s area council elections, as the Nigeria Police Force announced a territory-wide restriction of movement to bolster security during the exercise.

The electoral body fixed February 21, 2026, for the conduct of the election into the FCT area councils.

Findings by The PUNCH show that 2,822 polling units have been designated across the FCT’s six area councils, with four officials, a Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers assigned to each unit in line with the commission’s standard procedure.

Supervisory Presiding Officers will also coordinate activities at ward centres, while sensitive materials, including ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems and result sheets, are scheduled for early deployment to council offices to prevent delays on election day.

With 2,822 polling units and four officials assigned to each, the commission is expected to deploy at least 11,288 ad hoc personnel for the exercise.

INEC said voting would take place in 2,822 polling units, supported by 3,345 BVAS devices to facilitate accreditation and result transmission.

The INEC chairman noted that 89 observer groups and 700 journalists have been accredited to monitor the exercise, adding that multiple security agencies would be deployed to ensure order.

A top official of the commission responsible for monitoring the Area councils election disclosed the preparations to The PUNCH.

The official said sensitive materials, including ballot papers, BVAS and result sheets, would undergo “thorough checks on Wednesday and be moved to the councils’ offices on Thursday.”

The early deployment of materials, another official at the FCT INEC office indicated, was aimed at “enhancing the electoral process and preventing delays on election day to ensure a seamless voting experience.”

For the successful conduct of the election, the FCT police command deployed personnel across the territory, as it announced a restriction of movement across the FCT from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on election day.

Only essential service providers and election officials were granted exemptions.

In a statement on Wednesday, the command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the deployment, carried out under a comprehensive operational order, involved a coordinated effort with sister security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, the 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.

“This massive deployment has enjoyed a rich exchange of operation and human resources from sister security agencies, comprising the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Air Force, Nigeria Navy, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, among others”

Announcing the restriction of movement, Adeh urged residents to cooperate with security personnel and comply with security guidelines during the period.

She assured voters that adequate measures have been put in place to enable them to exercise their civic responsibilities peacefully and without fear.

Adeh said, “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.

“Consequently, FCT residents are urged to cooperate fully with security personnel and comply with security operations guidelines during this period.

“The command also uses this opportunity to enjoin all residents of the FCT to remain law-abiding and come out to exercise their civic responsibility peacefully and without fear, as adequate security measures have been put in place.”

The police spokesman added that the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Miller Dantawaye, directed all deployed officers to maintain professionalism and ensure adequate security at polling units and collation centres to guarantee a peaceful, free and fair electoral process.

“The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, charged all deployed officers to maintain the highest level of professionalism and ensure adequate security coverage at all polling units and collation centres in order to guarantee a peaceful, free, and fair electoral process.

“He further warned that officers must remain vigilant, impartial, and courteous in the discharge of their duties, while respecting the rights of all citizens,” Adeh said.

As the election approaches, campaign activities have intensified. Already, 17 political parties fielded 637 candidates to contest for 68 elective positions across 62 political wards, with 1,680,315 registered voters expected to participate.

The polls will be held in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji, where chairmen and councillors will be elected.

Political actors have described the exercise as a dress rehearsal for the 2027 general elections.

Major parties, including the All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Labour Party, and the Social Democratic Party, are engaged in keen contests, particularly in the Abuja Municipal Area Council and Bwari.

The African Democratic Congress and smaller parties are also seeking to make electoral gains.

(Punch)

Update news