The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems (BVAS) will be deployed across all polling units for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, with results set to be uploaded to the Result Viewing Portal to ensure transparency.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed the preparations at a stakeholders’ forum on Wednesday, reiterating the commission’s commitment to a peaceful, credible, and transparent election.
“Any individual found buying or selling votes will be apprehended and dealt with according to the law,” Amupitan said, noting that operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will be present to deter electoral offences.
To facilitate logistics, INEC plans to deploy 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles, and 14 boats. A total of 11,288 ad hoc personnel will oversee 2,822 polling units across the FCT’s six area councils, with four officials—one Presiding Officer and three Assistant Presiding Officers—assigned to each unit. Supervisory Presiding Officers will coordinate activities at ward centres, while sensitive materials, including ballot papers, BVAS devices, and result sheets, will be pre-deployed to council offices to prevent delays on election day.
INEC also accredited 89 observer groups and 700 journalists to monitor the polls. Voting will be supported by 3,345 BVAS devices to facilitate accreditation and result transmission.
For security, the FCT Police Command has deployed personnel across the territory under a comprehensive operational order, in coordination with the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). A restriction of movement will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day, with exemptions for essential service providers and election officials.
Spokesperson Josephine Adeh assured voters that adequate measures have been put in place to enable them to exercise their civic duties safely. Police Commissioner Miller Dantawaye directed officers to maintain professionalism, vigilance, and impartiality at all polling units and collation centres.
Seventeen political parties are fielding 637 candidates to contest 68 elective positions across 62 wards, with 1,680,315 registered voters expected to participate. The elections, covering Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji, are being seen as a dress rehearsal for the 2027 general elections.
Major parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP), are in intense contests, particularly in Abuja Municipal Area Council and Bwari, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and smaller parties seek electoral gains.
