By Oluwatobi Omotosho
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced the deployment of 3,345 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices for Saturday’s Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, as security agencies declared a restriction of movement across the territory.
Chairman of the FCT Electoral Committee, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this on Wednesday at a high-level stakeholders’ forum, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to conducting a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
He said BVAS machines would be deployed to all 2,822 polling units across the six area councils, while results would be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal to enhance transparency.
“Any individual found buying or selling votes will be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law,” Amupitan said, noting that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission would be on ground to deter vote trading.
He added that 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles and 14 boats would be deployed to ensure seamless movement of personnel and materials, stressing that there must be no logistical lapses on election day.
According to him, the commission will engage no fewer than 11,288 ad hoc personnel, with four officials — a Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers — assigned to each polling unit. Supervisory Presiding Officers will coordinate activities at ward centres.
Sensitive materials, including ballot papers, BVAS machines and result sheets, are scheduled for early deployment to council offices to prevent delays.
Amupitan emphasised INEC’s neutrality 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.
The commission also accredited 89 observer groups and 700 journalists to monitor the exercise.
The election, fixed for February 21, 2026, will hold across the six area councils — Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji — where chairmen and councillors will be elected.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force, FCT Command, announced a territory-wide restriction of movement from 6:00am to 6:00pm on election day, except for essential service providers and election officials.
Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said the deployment involved collaboration with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
She urged residents to cooperate with security personnel and assured voters of adequate protection to enable them exercise their civic duties peacefully.
The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye, directed officers to remain professional, impartial and vigilant at polling units and collation centres to guarantee a peaceful, free and fair process.
Ahead of the polls, 17 political parties have fielded 637 candidates to contest 68 elective positions across 62 political wards, with 1,680,315 registered voters expected to participate.
Major parties, including the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and Social Democratic Party, are engaged in keen contests, particularly in Abuja Municipal Area Council and Bwari.
Political observers have described the election as a dress rehearsal for the 2027 general elections.
