The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned that vote buying and other electoral offences will not be tolerated during Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory Area Council election, disclosing that anti-corruption agencies have been deployed to enforce compliance.
Amupitan issued the warning on Wednesday, February 18, while addressing a high-level stakeholders’ forum in Abuja ahead of the February 21 polls.
The INEC chairman revealed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission would be on ground alongside other security agencies to monitor the election and clamp down on anyone attempting to buy votes or engage in electoral fraud.
He made clear that the commission has no preferred candidate in any of the 68 seats being contested and reminded all political actors that elections are a shared responsibility that must be conducted within the boundaries of the law.
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Amupitan said over 1.6 million registered voters are expected to participate in the election across 2,822 polling units spread across the FCT, with 570 candidates vying for positions.
On the use of technology, the chairman confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System would be deployed in every polling unit to ensure only eligible voters are accredited.
He added that results from each unit would be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal for public verification.
To further guarantee transparency, Amupitan disclosed that the commission had accredited 89 observer groups and 700 journalists to monitor proceedings across the territory.
The INEC chairman has previously described 2026 as a crucial preparatory year for the 2027 general elections, making Saturday’s FCT poll an important test of the commission’s readiness and the integrity of its processes ahead of the bigger electoral exercise next year.