The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, has disclosed that the Commission has identified flashpoints in parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ahead of the forthcoming Area Council Elections, with special security attention to be focused on Gwagwalada, Kuje and Bwari.
Prof. Amupitan made the disclosure during a readiness assessment visit and meeting with FCT staff, stating that a comprehensive risk assessment had already been conducted to forestall any breakdown of law and order during the polls.
According to him, the identification of the three area councils as flashpoints is part of proactive measures to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
He assured that INEC is working closely with security agencies to provide adequate protection for voters, electoral personnel and materials.The Chairman charged staff to take full ownership of the process, warning that the FCT election would serve as a test case for the Commission.“You are the foot soldiers.
The success of this election rests on how you perform your responsibilities,” he said.He emphasized strict adherence to INEC regulations, proper deployment of technology and transparent result management, stressing that any act of misconduct, including faulty declaration of results, would attract sanctions under the Electoral Act, 2022.“There is a saying in law that ignorance of the law is not an excuse.
We need to let everyone know that there are consequences for dereliction of duty,” Prof. Amupitan stated.He also highlighted punctuality as critical to preventing tension, directing that all polling units must be set up by 8:00 a.m. and voting commence by 8:30 a.m. as scheduled.“When you start on time, you close by 2:30 p.m., and results can be concluded before nightfall.
That is the beginning of success,” he added.The Chairman further urged officials to communicate any operational challenges promptly to ensure INEC remains the primary source of information in real time.In his remarks, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu K. Idris, assured the Chairman of the Commission’s preparedness, noting that all non-sensitive materials had been deployed to the six area council offices.
“We have received all the non-sensitive materials, which have been moved to the area council offices. Training of staff commenced on 13th–15th February 2026, and we are conducting additional training today to address the shortfall in turnout,” Idris said.
He added that additional support had been requested to guarantee seamless execution of electoral activities and expressed optimism that staff deployment figures would be finalized promptly.
The forthcoming FCT Area Council Elections are expected to test both the Commission’s logistical readiness and its ability to manage security concerns in identified flashpoint areas.(News register.com)
