FCT Elections: INEC Mandates Anti-Graft Agencies to Halt Vote Selling
The Independent National Electoral Commission has directed anti-corruption agencies to station personnel at polling units during Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, with orders to make immediate arrests of anyone caught buying or selling votes.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, delivered the warning at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, describing vote trading as a direct threat to electoral integrity. He said the Commission had issued an “express mandate” to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission for deployment to polling units.
“Any individual found buying or selling votes will be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law,” Amupitan stated, adding that such practices “undermines the sanctity of the ballot and erodes public confidence in democratic institutions.”
The elections are set for February 21, 2026, across the six Area Councils of Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali. A total of 1,680,315 registered voters are expected to participate in 2,822 polling units. The ballot will feature 570 candidates vying for 68 positions: six Chairmen, six Vice-Chairmen, and 56 Councillorship seats.
Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s impartiality. “INEC does not have a political party and does not have a preferred candidate. Our mandate is clear: to provide the enabling environment for residents of the Federal Capital Territory to freely choose their representatives.”
He confirmed that all 13 items on the election timetable have been completed, leaving only the end of campaigns on Thursday and the voting day itself. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has undergone upgrades and will handle voter verification and result transmission in real time from polling units. INEC will deploy 11,873 polling officials, supported by 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles, and 14 boats for logistics in hard-to-reach areas.
“Our collective duty is to ensure that votes are cast freely, counted accurately, and reflected transparently,” Amupitan said. “Let us raise the bar and consolidate the FCT’s standing as a model for Local Government elections in Nigeria.”
The FCT Area Council elections remain the only local government polls conducted directly by INEC, unlike those in the 36 states managed by State Independent Electoral Commissions. This arrangement stems from the constitutional status of the Federal Capital Territory as administered by the federal government.
Vote buying has long plagued Nigerian elections, with reports from previous cycles showing cash inducements, distribution of goods, and promises of favours influencing voter behaviour. The Electoral Act 2022 prescribes stiff penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for such offences, though enforcement has often been inconsistent due to challenges in detection and prosecution.
INEC’s decision to involve EFCC and ICPC reflects a broader push to strengthen deterrence through specialised anti-graft bodies, which have powers to investigate financial crimes linked to electoral malpractice. Recent consultations, including meetings of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, have highlighted risks such as vote trading in densely populated areas like AMAC and potential thuggery or intimidation in others.
Amupitan’s remarks follow readiness assessment visits to selected Area Councils, including Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari, where he reviewed facilities and logistics. The Commission conducted a mock accreditation and voting exercise earlier this month to test BVAS functionality and operational readiness.
With campaigns concluding tomorrow and voting commencing at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, attention now shifts to security arrangements and voter turnout. INEC has urged all stakeholders—political parties, security agencies, civil society, media, and voters—to uphold the process and help deliver a credible outcome.