The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced that 1,680,315 registered voters will participate in the February 21, 2026 FCT Area Council elections across 2,822 polling units spread across the six area councils.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday during the Commission’s first regular consultative meeting with leaders of political parties, where he provided updates on preparations for upcoming elections nationwide.
According to him, the FCT election will feature 570 candidates contesting positions of Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Councillors in 68 constituencies across the area councils of Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.
The councilorship contests cover 62 wards, 10 wards each in five area councils, while AMAC has 12 wards.
Amupitan recalled that the election timetable released in January 2025 contained 13 major activities, noting that 10 had already been successfully completed.
The outstanding activities include publication of the notice of poll, conclusion of campaigns and Election Day itself.
He reminded political parties that campaigns officially end on February 19.
While providing details of preparedness, the INEC chairman said non-sensitive election materials have already been delivered and batched across the area councils, while training of Electoral Officers, their assistants and election security personnel has been completed through collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES.
He added that recruitment of ad hoc personnel had been concluded, while training of trainers has also been completed ahead of large-scale training for ad hoc staff beginning February 6 in the FCT, Kano and Rivers States.
BVAS machines are currently being configured for voter accreditation and electronic transmission of results to the IReV portal, while sensitive materials will be distributed a day before the election.
To further test system readiness, the Commission will conduct a mock accreditation exercise on February 7 in 289 designated polling units across the six area councils, with details to be published on INEC’s website.
He noted that in line with transparency commitments, INEC has accredited 83 domestic and five international observer groups to monitor the polls, alongside media organisations expected to provide nationwide coverage.
Amupitan urged political parties to intensify mobilisation of residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, as distribution closes February 10.
He also warned against vote-buying, hate speech and election violence, stressing that offenders would face prosecution.
Beyond the FCT elections, he disclosed that INEC will also conduct bye-elections on the same day in Rivers and Kano States.
In Rivers, polls will be held in Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies, involving over 112,000 voters across 242 polling units.
Kano State will host bye-elections in Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies, where more than 535,000 voters are expected to participate across over 1,000 polling units.
The Commission also updated stakeholders on preparations for upcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States scheduled for June 20 and August 8, 2026 respectively, with several preparatory activities already underway.
On preparations for the 2027 General Election, Amupitan said INEC has completed the timetable in compliance with electoral laws but is awaiting conclusion of ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act by the National Assembly to ensure legal stability ahead of the polls.
Addressing concerns over voter register integrity, the chairman announced plans for a nationwide voter revalidation exercise to eliminate duplicate and inaccurate records, strengthen public confidence and prepare for the 2027 elections.
He also expressed concern over declining voter turnout, which fell from over 53 percent in 2011 to 26.7 percent in 2023, calling on political parties to intensify voter education and rebuild citizens’ trust in the democratic process.
INEC further disclosed that following rigorous screening of applications for party registration, the Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA, has been approved as a new political party, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, is being registered in compliance with a court order.
Amupitan urged political parties to resolve internal leadership disputes amicably, warning that persistent litigations undermine democratic stability and distract the Commission from its core mandate.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to credible, transparent and inclusive elections, urging all stakeholders to work collectively to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy as the country moves toward another busy electoral cycle.
Speaking on behalf of all political parties, the Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, urged INEC to uphold strict neutrality and independence in managing Nigeria’s elections
Dantalle, noted that Nigerians’ expectation for credible, transparent and inclusive polls remain high, stressed that respecting party constitutions when recognizing leadership would curb disputes, litigation, and perceptions of interference.
He urged parties to strengthen internal democracy and resolve conflicts through IPAC’s mechanisms, while calling on lawmakers to quickly harmonize electoral laws ahead of upcoming polls.
He also backed mandatory electronic transmission of results, scrapping state electoral commissions, and conducting elections nationwide simultaneously.
Dantalle said the February 21 FCT council polls, alongside Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, must reinforce public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections, pledging IPAC’s continued collaboration toward stable, credible democratic governance.
