From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, has promised to reward Electoral Officers in the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who perform their duties diligently and ensure a free, fair, and credible election scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Professor Amupitan made the pledge during a tour of Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari Area Councils on Tuesday, assessing preparedness for the upcoming polls.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of readiness observed, saying the officials’ efforts indicate that the election will be conducted transparently and efficiently.
“From what I have seen on the ground, the electoral officers have demonstrated remarkable preparedness. I am confident that the FCT election will be free, fair, and credible,” he said.
The INEC Chairman warned that all elections must strictly follow the Electoral Act 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He cautioned that any officer or individual who breaches electoral guidelines or compromises the integrity of the process would face penalties in accordance with the law.
Professor Amupitan also urged officials to ensure timely deployment of electoral materials and punctual commencement of voting.
“All officers must be in place by 6:30 a.m. so that voting can start at 8:30 a.m. and end by 2:30 p.m. I will not be pleased if voters arrive and find materials or personnel missing, as it would create the impression of poor preparation,” he said.
The assessment visit was conducted alongside nine National Commissioners, the Acting Director-General of The Electoral Institute (TEI), the technical team, media personnel, and other INEC officials.
The Chairman commended the level of organisation across the three councils, describing it as a reflection of the Commission’s commitment to restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
“We must redeem our image through performance, not just words,” he told journalists after inspecting the facilities. “The readiness reports from the Area Councils are impressive — one reported 99.9 per cent preparedness, Kuje at 90.8 per cent, and another at 100 per cent.”
He added, “All materials have been batched. I personally inspected the stores and confirmed that everything is in place. The level of preparation leaves no room for excuses or lapses on election day.”
The Electoral Officers — Mr. Yakubu Allawa (Kuje), Mr. Bola Abdullahi (Gwagwalada), and Mrs. Gloria Adebayo-Stephen (Bwari) — assured Professor Amupitan of their commitment to a smooth election.
They confirmed that all non-sensitive materials had been prepared and that they had received the necessary logistical and administrative support from INEC.
