The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced a three day training workshop for Election Security Personnel in preparation for the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The exercise, which began on Monday, January 19, targets heads of FCT commands of member security agencies under the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, January 21, INEC said the training involved senior officers from the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Army, Nigeria Navy, Directorate of State Security Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Fire Service and the Federal Road Safety Corps.
According to the Commission, “The objective of the training is to get participants up to date with the Initiatives and Innovations introduced by the Commission and to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities as well as the rules of engagement in provision of Election Security as stakeholders in the forthcoming election.”
INEC added that the workshop is also designed to deepen understanding of ethical and legal standards guiding election security duties and to strengthen professionalism before, during and after elections.
Delivering the opening address, the Chairman of the Board of the Electoral Institute, Professor Abdullahi Zuru, thanked the security agencies for their continued collaboration with the Commission.
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He acknowledged their critical role in ensuring peaceful polls and urged them to maintain high professional standards to deliver “more peaceful, inclusive, and acceptable elections in the FCT.”
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for the FCT, Mr Aminu Idris, welcomed participants and expressed confidence in the ability of security agencies to create a safe electoral environment.
He said he hoped security personnel would ensure that political parties campaign freely, voters exercise their franchise peacefully, and INEC staff and ad hoc officials carry out their duties without intimidation before and during the election.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Mr Miller Dantawaye, called on participants to prioritise cooperation across agencies.
He urged them to strengthen inter agency synergy to effectively address security challenges “before, during and after the FCT Area Council Elections.”
INEC disclosed that at the conclusion of the three day workshop, the Commission and ICCES would proceed to a second level of training across the six area councils of the FCT.
It said the next phase, scheduled for January 23 to 25, 2026, would involve officers of ICCES member agencies nominated from area council divisions to further strengthen election security at the grassroots level.