By: Uchechi Ohanusi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that results of the upcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections will be transmitted in real time from polling units, reinforcing its commitment to credible and transparent elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance after inspecting preparedness in Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari Area Councils ahead of the polls scheduled for February 21, 2026.
He highlighted the effectiveness of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which has been used consistently to both accredit voters and transmit results electronically.
Amupitan disclosed that Kuje reported 99.9 per cent readiness, Gwagwalada 90.8 per cent, and Bwari 100 per cent preparedness. Sensitive and non-sensitive election materials have been batched, inspected, and verified in storage facilities to ensure full readiness.
Emphasising the importance of timely deployment and security, he directed that officials and security personnel report to Registration Area Centres (RACs) on Friday to facilitate early setup on election day.
Voting is scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m., with an expected conclusion by 2:30 p.m., after which counting and result uploading will commence promptly.
"All results must be uploaded through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), with proper keying and cross-checking at collation centres to ensure accuracy,” Amupitan said.
He also addressed voter apathy, stressing that INEC would work within the law to restore public confidence in the electoral system.
Electoral Officers from the three area councils affirmed their preparedness, supporting INEC’s assurance that the FCT polls will be conducted credibly and transparently.
