By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has expressed strong confidence in the Commission’s preparedness for the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, declaring that arrangements are almost fully in place to deliver a credible and transparent exercise.
Professor Amupitan gave the assurance after conducting an on-the-spot assessment of electoral preparations across Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari Area Councils in the nation’s capital, Abuja, ahead of the polls scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The INEC Chairman said the inspection was part of the Commission’s determination to ensure operational efficiency and rebuild public trust in Nigeria’s electoral system through demonstrable performance rather than mere assurances.
“We must begin to redeem our image through what we do, not necessarily what we say,” he stated, underscoring the Commission’s resolve to strengthen confidence in the credibility of elections under its supervision.
According to him, reports received from Electoral Officers across the visited councils indicated impressive levels of readiness, reflecting intensive preparations by INEC personnel. He disclosed that one of the Area Councils recorded 99.9 per cent readiness, another reached 90.8 per cent, while the third had achieved full, 100 per cent readiness for the exercise.
During the visit, the INEC boss personally verified the availability and proper organisation of electoral materials, including batched non-sensitive materials, and expressed satisfaction with the level of preparedness and professionalism demonstrated by staff.
He commended the dedication, focus, and sense of duty exhibited by electoral officials, describing their commitment as critical to the success of the election.
Amupitan, however, emphasised that beyond logistics and materials, the peaceful conduct of the election and the integrity of result management remain paramount. He directed electoral officials to strictly comply with established procedures, particularly the requirement that votes must be counted and declared at the polling units immediately after voting concludes.
He further instructed that election results must be electronically transmitted to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, in line with the Commission’s commitment to transparency and real-time public access to results.
The Chairman also dismissed lingering doubts and criticisms suggesting that INEC was experimenting with electronic result transmission technologies, firmly clarifying that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is fully capable of performing both voter accreditation and electronic upload of polling unit results.
He reminded all election personnel of their oath of neutrality and urged them to discharge their responsibilities with the highest level of professionalism, integrity, and impartiality.
The FCT Area Council election, which will be conducted across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, is widely regarded as a critical test of INEC’s operational capacity ahead of future off-cycle governorship elections and the 2027 general elections.
Political observers note that the election will provide an important opportunity for the Commission to reinforce public confidence following ongoing reforms aimed at improving electoral transparency, efficiency, and credibility.
INEC reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, and inclusive election that truly reflects the will of the people, assuring residents of the FCT that all necessary measures have been put in place to ensure a smooth and peaceful democratic exercise.
