No Excuses On Election Day: INEC Boss Declares FCT “Ready” Ahead Of Area Council Polls
With public trust in elections often won or lost on logistics and integrity, INEC says the real test begins this Saturday in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has expressed confidence in the Commission’s readiness for the FCT Area Council elections scheduled for 21 February 2026, following an on-the-spot assessment of Kuje, Gwagwalada and Bwari.
Speaking after the inspection tour alongside national commissioners and senior officials, Amupitan said INEC must rebuild public confidence through performance, not promises.
“We must begin to redeem our image through what we do, not necessarily what we say,” he told journalists, adding that he was satisfied with what he saw on the ground.
Readiness reports from the Area Councils showed near-complete preparedness, with one council reporting 99.9 per cent readiness, Kuje at 90.8 per cent, and another declaring 100 per cent preparedness.
The INEC boss said all non-sensitive materials had been batched and personally verified in stores, stressing that there should be “no room for excuses” on election day.
Electoral Officers in Kuje, Gwagwalada and Bwari confirmed that training of ad hoc staff had been concluded, logistics finalised and coordination with security agencies strengthened.
Amupitan commended the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner for decentralising operations to Area Councils, describing it as a practical step towards efficiency.
He insisted that early activation of Registration Area Centres, prompt deployment of personnel and commencement of accreditation and voting at 8.30am would be the true measure of readiness.
The INEC chairman also called for robust security deployment in flashpoints and strict adherence to result management procedures, including counting and declaration at polling units and prompt transmission to the IReV portal.
Dismissing claims that INEC was “experimenting” with technology, Amupitan said electronic transmission of results via BVAS and IReV has been in use since 2022 and would apply in the FCT poll.
He reminded staff of their oath of neutrality and professionalism, adding that the credibility of the election would rest squarely on their conduct.
INEC is expected to hold an expanded stakeholders’ meeting on 18 February to engage political parties, security agencies, civil society and the media, as the FCT election, the only local government poll conducted by INEC, continues to serve as a national benchmark.
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