INEC cracks down on vote buying ahead of FCT 2026 elections

By Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that any attempt to buy or sell votes during the upcoming 2026 FCT Area Council Elections will be met with strict enforcement, tasking anti-graft agencies with on-the-spot arrests.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, SAN, said the Commission has given an “express mandate” to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to deploy personnel to polling units to apprehend offenders.

“Any individual found buying or selling votes will be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law,” Amupitan stated, emphasizing that vote trading “undermines the sanctity of the ballot and erodes public confidence in democratic institutions.”

The elections, scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026, will involve 1,680,315 registered voters across 2,822 polling units in the six Area Councils, with 570 candidates contesting for 68 positions, including Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, and Councilorship seats.

Reiterating INEC’s neutrality, Amupitan said, “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 INEC’s election timetable have been completed, with the only remaining activities being the conclusion of campaigns on Thursday and the election itself.

Amupitan added that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has been upgraded and will be deployed across all polling units, supported by 11,873 polling officials, 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles, and 14 boats.

“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,” he urged.

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