INEC Chairman Visits FCT Office, Charges Staff on Credible Conduct of Area Council Elections.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, has charged staff of the Federal Capital Territory Office to take full ownership of the forthcoming Area Council Elections, warning that any act of dereliction would attract severe consequences.
The Chairman gave the charge earlier today during a readiness assessment visit and general meeting with FCT staff, describing the election as a test case for the Commission and an opportunity to restore public confidence in the electoral process.
You are the foot soldiers. The success of this election rests on how you perform your responsibilities, Prof. Amupitan told staff, with particular emphasis on Electoral Officers across the six area councils.
He reminded personnel that under the Electoral Act, 2022, there are clear consequences for misconduct, including faulty declaration of results.
There is a saying in law that ignorance of the law is not an excuse. We need to let everyone know that there are consequences for dereliction of duty, he stated.
The Chairman further stressed the need for strict adherence to INEC regulations, proper deployment of technology, and transparent result management, urging Electoral Officers to be proactive in addressing challenges at the polling unit level.
Prof. Amupitan identified punctuality as a key performance indicator for a successful election, directing that all polling units must be set up by 8:00 a.m. to enable voting to commence by 8:30 a.m. as advertised.
When you start on time, you close by 2:30 p.m., and results can be concluded before nightfall. That is the beginning of success, he said.
He warned that any delays must be communicated to the Commission promptly to ensure INEC remains the primary source of information in real time.
He also emphasized the importance of proper result collation, noting that transparent and timely declaration of outcomes would boost public trust in the process.
Prof. Amupitan disclosed that the Commission had completed a comprehensive risk assessment of the FCT, identifying flashpoints in Gwagwalada, Kuje and Bwari for special security attention. He assured that INEC was synergizing with security agencies to ensure a peaceful election.
He also called for special attention to Persons with Disabilities, urging that they be assisted to vote without hindrance.
Earlier in his remarks, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu K. Idris, provided an update on the state of preparedness for the Area Council Elections, assuring the Chairman that all non-sensitive materials had been deployed to the six area council offices.
We have received all the non-sensitive materials, which have been moved to the area council offices. Training of staff commenced on 13th - 15th February 2026 and we are conducting additional training today to address the shortfall in turnout, Idris stated.
He added that the Commission had requested additional support to ensure seamless execution of electoral activities and expressed optimism that by the end of the day, the exact number of staff to be deployed for the election would be ascertained.
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