The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that any attempt to buy or sell votes during the forthcoming 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections will attract immediate arrest and prosecution.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, SAN, issued the warning on Wednesday while addressing stakeholders at a meeting in Abuja. He disclosed that the Commission has granted an “express mandate” to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to deploy operatives to polling units for the purpose of apprehending vote traders.
“Any individual found buying or selling votes will be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law,” Amupitan said, stressing that vote trading “undermines the sanctity of the ballot and erodes public confidence in democratic institutions.”
The elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, and will see 1,680,315 registered voters across 2,822 polling units electing representatives in the six Area Councils of the FCT. A total of 570 candidates are contesting for 68 positions, including Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, and Councilorship seats.
Reaffirming the Commission’s neutrality, the INEC Chairman maintained that the electoral body has no preferred candidate or political affiliation.
“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 stated.
Amupitan further revealed that all 13 activities outlined in the Commission’s election timetable have been successfully completed, leaving only the close of campaigns on Thursday and the conduct of the polls.
He added that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has been upgraded and will be deployed across all polling units. The exercise will be supported by 11,873 polling officials, 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles, and 14 boats to ensure smooth logistics and efficient accreditation.
“Our collective duty is to ensure that votes are cast freely, counted accurately, and reflected transparently. Let us raise the bar and consolidate the FCT’s standing as a model for Local Government elections in Nigeria,” Amupitan urged.
