By Patrick Idowu

No fewer than 1,680,315 registered voters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are set to vote across 2,822 polling units tomorrow to elect six Area Council chairmen and 62 councillors.

A total of 570 candidates are contesting for chairman, vice-chairman and councillorship positions under 17 political parties cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The elections will be held in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali Area Councils.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed at a stakeholders’ meeting that 106,099 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) were collected before the February 10 deadline.

He added that 89 observer groups and 700 journalists from 72 media organisations have been accredited.

According to him, 11,873 polling officials, alongside supervisory and technical staff, will be deployed, while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be used in all polling units. The commission has also arranged vehicles, motorcycles and boats for logistics.

Meanwhile, the FCT Police Command has announced a restriction of movement from 6am to 6pm on election day.

In a statement, Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said only essential and accredited election personnel would be exempted. She added that security operatives, including the Army, Air Force, Navy, DSS and NSCDC, have been deployed to ensure a peaceful poll.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, urged officers to maintain professionalism and provide adequate security at polling units and collation centres.

By Olokuta Rofiat

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the Senate’s decision on electronic transmission of election results, describing it as a “backdoor plot” capable of undermining electoral transparency.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, the party faulted the Electoral Act amendment, particularly the provision allowing manual transmission of results where electronic upload fails.

The PDP argued that while the Senate approved electronic transmission, retaining manual alternatives creates loopholes that could be exploited to manipulate results.

It said Nigerians had demanded strict real-time electronic transmission from polling units to boost credibility and reduce post-election disputes, warning that any clause that weakens the requirement could erode public confidence.

The party urged the National Assembly to adopt a clearer and stronger provision during the harmonisation process between the Senate and the House of Representatives, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Senate’s position has continued to draw mixed reactions from political stakeholders and civil society groups.

By Patrick Idowu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to use its digital platforms to confirm their polling units ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for February 21.

The INEC Administrative Secretary for the FCT, Mrs. Abimbola Oladunjoye, gave the advice in Abuja on Monday, warning voters not to wait until election day before locating their voting points.

According to her, voters who are unsure of their polling unit details can visit voters.inecnigeria.org and enter their information to view their polling unit and directions.

She added that those who know their polling unit name or code but are unsure of its physical location can use the Polling Unit Locator Tool on pula.inecnigeria.org, where they can select the FCT, ward and polling unit to get directions.

Oladunjoye also said voters can use inecnigeria.org/location to access Google Maps directions by inputting polling unit details.

She further noted that INEC will paste the register of voters at every polling unit four to five days before the election to assist residents.