By Nkechi Eze
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the media to intensify voter education, promote professionalism and uphold ethical standards in election reporting ahead of the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections.
The call was made on Tuesday in Abuja during a media engagement forum organised by the Commission as part of its stakeholder consultations for the forthcoming polls.
Speaking at the event, the Supervising National Commissioner for the FCT and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Malam Mohammed Haruna, described the media as a cornerstone of democracy, stressing that credible elections depend largely on responsible reportage and active voter mobilisation.
He disclosed that INEC has completed 10 of the 13 activities in the election timetable, with the final Register of Voters published on January 14, 2026, and distributed to political parties. The remaining activities include publication of the Notice of Poll on February 7, end of campaigns on February 19 and Election Day on February 21.
Haruna added that virtually all non-sensitive materials have been procured and batched for the six Area Councils, 62 Wards and 2,822 Polling Units in the FCT, while sensitive materials will be received from the Central Bank of Nigeria on February 18. He also said BVAS machines are being configured for deployment.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the FCT, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, said INEC would conduct a mock accreditation exercise in 289 polling units to test election technologies, while announcing that the FCT now has 1,680,315 registered voters.
In a goodwill message, NUJ FCT Chairman, Ms Grace Ike, urged journalists to prioritise accuracy over speed and reject misinformation, noting that elections are won not only at polling units but also in the information space.
