Daniel Otera
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is intensifying preparations for the Area Council elections scheduled for 21 February 2026. With the tenure of the current chairmen and councillors set to end in 2026, INEC is rolling out a comprehensive voter registration exercise to ensure a credible and inclusive electoral process.
The FCT Area Council elections will involve voting across 68 constituencies to elect six Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councillors. According to INEC, the elections will take place in all designated polling units, with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) deployed to ensure transparency.
“Only persons whose names appear on the register of voters and have valid Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) will be allowed to vote,” INEC stated in its official notice.
The commission has outlined a detailed timetable: party primaries will run from 9 to 30 June 2025, the candidate nomination portal will be open from 21 July to 11 August 2025, and public campaigns will commence on 24 September 2025, ending at midnight on 19 February 2026.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced the election date during a consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja on 22 January 2025. He emphasised compliance with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the commission to issue election notices at least 360 days in advance.
“The last Area Council election in the FCT was held on 12 February 2022. By the effluxion of time, the tenure of the current Chairmen and Councillors ends next year,” Yakubu noted.
A critical component of INEC’s preparations is the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, set to commence on 18 August 2025 with online pre-registration, followed by in-person registration on 25 August 2025, running concurrently until 30 August 2026. This exercise targets new voters, those seeking to transfer their registration, replace lost or damaged PVCs, or correct biodata errors. According to a post by INEC on X, the CVR will be conducted at 811 centres across Nigeria, including INEC state and local government offices.
FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Aminu Idris Kasimu, provided insights into the registration process during a briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.
“South Africa, or Cameroon, or probably just like registering. So these are the group of people that we will be looking at first, at first. We call them fresh registering, or first registration,” Kasimu explained, highlighting the focus on new voters. He stressed that online pre-registration must be completed in person at INEC offices to capture biometric data, such as fingerprints, to finalise the process.
“Please note that all pre-registration must be completed at the local government office to capture voters’ fingerprints,” he added.
Kasimu also addressed the issue of PVC collection, noting, “You must go to the centre to pick up your PVC. There is no collection by proxy.” This requirement underscores INEC’s commitment to ensuring that only eligible voters receive their PVCs.
Additionally, he highlighted remedies for lost or damaged PVCs and biodata corrections, stating, “If your PVC is missing, there’s no need to register again. All you need to do is go to INEC. You can do it on your own. Pick up your smartphone with the URL, www.cvr.inec.gov.ng, log in there, and you see all this stuff. It is simple.
To register, voters must meet specific criteria outlined by INEC. Kasimu reiterated, “You must be a citizen of Nigeria and have attained the age of 18 years or before the registration day. You must not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote under any law or regulation in force in Nigeria.” Voters are also required to present themselves in person for biometric capture, ensuring the integrity of the voter register.
The legal framework guiding the process is rooted in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act 2022. These laws mandate INEC to maintain an accurate voter register and conduct elections that uphold democratic principles. The commission’s emphasis on BVAS and mandatory PVC presentation aligns with global best practices to prevent electoral fraud.
Historical data provides context for the scale of INEC’s task. In the 2023 general elections, INEC registered 93.4 million voters nationwide, with the FCT accounting for approximately 1.6 million registered voters, according to INEC’s 2023 election report.
However, only 26.7% of registered voters turned out in the FCT during the 2022 Area Council elections, a figure that raises concerns about voter apathy. The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, described low voter turnout as “worrisome and a sad commentary in the democratic process,” urging stakeholders to work towards greater participation.
The CVR exercise is expected to increase the voter register, particularly among young Nigerians. Data from INEC’s 2023 report indicates that 76.5% of new registrants in the previous CVR were aged 18–34, reflecting a growing interest among Gen Z and millennials. Kasimu acknowledged this demographic, noting, “For the Gen Z, they’ll be able to help the adults or the elderly ones to run through this process”.
This youth engagement is critical, as Nigeria’s population is projected to reach 230 million by 2026, with over 60% under 35 years, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
INEC faces several challenges in preparing for the 2026 elections. Prof. Yakubu highlighted the financial and logistical burden of bye-elections, which often result from resignations or deaths of elected officials.
“Over the last one and a half years since the inauguration of the current National and State Assemblies in June 2023, vacancies have occurred in 23 constituencies,” he said, noting that 14 remain outstanding. These bye-elections divert resources from major electoral activities like the FCT polls.
Security concerns also loom large. In 2024, INEC’s offices in Benue and Delta States were attacked, resulting in significant damage to electoral assets. While these incidents were unrelated to elections, they underscore the need for robust security measures during voter registration and polling.
On the opportunity side, the integration of technology, such as the online CVR portal (www.cvr.inec.gov.ng), streamlines the process and appeals to tech-savvy Nigerians. Posts on X indicate public enthusiasm for the CVR, with users like @SituationRoomNg noting INEC’s readiness to commence registration. The portal allows voters to pre-register, transfer registrations, or correct biodata errors, reducing the time spent at registration centres. However, Kasimu cautioned, “Prior to 2023 general elections, some people did online registration and didn’t bother to complete the registration. Probably they assume they have registered”, urging civil society groups to educate voters on completing the process.
IPAC’s Yusuf Dantalle called for early preparations for the 2027 general elections, urging INEC to activate its Election Project Plan and Strategic Plan (2022–2026).
“To whom much is given, much is expected. Nigerians rely on INEC to deliver transparent elections that will usher in visionary leaders capable of transforming the nation,” he stated.
Dantalle also advocated for legislative reforms to address the high cost of bye-elections, echoing Yakubu’s call for alternative mechanisms to fill vacancies.
Civil society groups and the media have a crucial role in publicising the CVR.
Kasimu appealed, “If you have a bag of paper there, or you have a smartphone, snap it, so be able to help us also publicise it for people to know the exact URL or the portal for them to go to do their online registration”. This call to action highlights the collaborative effort needed to ensure high voter turnout.