The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that more than 1.6 million voters are eligible to participate in the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.
INEC disclosed that the total number of registered voters in the FCT now stands at 1,680,315, following a recent revision of the voters’ register.
The FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Malam Aminu Idris, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during an INEC forum with media executives, reporters, producers and on-air personalities.
According to Idris, the Commission has taken steps to improve election-day efficiency by decongesting large Registration Area Centres (RACs). As part of this effort, additional sub-RACs have been created in Dutse Alhaji and Kubwa Wards of Bwari Area Council, as well as Gwarinpa and Kabusa Wards in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
He also revealed that voting will not take place in four polling units across the FCT due to the absence of registered voters. The affected units include three polling units in Garki Ward and one in Jiwa Ward.
Idris stressed that INEC remains committed to maintaining an accurate and credible voters’ register ahead of the polls.
On the Commission’s preparedness, the REC said INEC has recorded significant progress, including monitoring party primaries, publishing final lists of candidates, receiving non-sensitive election materials, and activating Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.
“We have commenced monitoring public campaigns, received non-sensitive materials, opened portals for observer accreditation and ad-hoc staff recruitment, and activated BVAS devices in preparation for configuration,” he said.
He added that accreditation of media organisations will close on February 8, while the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at Area Council offices will continue until February 10.
INEC will also conduct a mock accreditation exercise in 289 polling units across the six Area Councils to test voter accreditation, voting procedures and the electronic upload of results to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal.
“The exercise is designed to test-run the technologies that will be deployed on election day,” Idris said, adding that the list of participating polling units has been published on INEC’s website.
He urged the media to play a key role in voter education and in combating misinformation, stressing that public trust in elections depends on accurate and responsible reporting.
“Accuracy must come before speed, and facts must prevail over speculation,” he said, assuring residents that INEC is committed to delivering a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
In his remarks, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mallam Mohammed Haruna, said the Commission has acquired and batched nearly all non-sensitive materials required for the election.
According to him, the materials have been organised for deployment across the six Area Councils, 62 Wards and 2,822 polling units in the FCT.
Haruna added that the printing of sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, is progressing smoothly and may be completed ahead of schedule.
He explained that, in line with INEC’s established practice, sensitive materials will be collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the presence of party agents, security agencies, civil society organisations and the media on February 18, ahead of distribution to Area Council offices.
Haruna also confirmed that sufficient BVAS devices are being configured for deployment to all polling units.
Highlighting the constitutional status of the FCT, he noted that Area Council elections in the territory are conducted with the same seriousness as governorship elections in the states.
He further disclosed that the 2026 polls will be the first Area Council elections under the four-year tenure introduced by the 2022 Electoral Act, urging all stakeholders to ensure a free, fair and credible process.
Haruna appealed to the media to promote voter participation and uphold professionalism, adding that INEC has completed 10 out of its 13 key election activities, with the remaining steps being the publication of the Notice of Poll on February 7, the end of campaigns on February 19, and Election Day on February 21.
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