2026 FCT polls: INEC warns in opposition to vote shopping for

The Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) has warned that it’ll not tolerate vote shopping for through the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Space Council elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made this recognized in a press release issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

He cautioned that anybody discovered participating in vote shopping for can be prosecuted.

Based on him, the election can be peaceable, clear, and credible, assuring residents that INEC has no most popular candidate.

Greater than 1.6 million registered voters are anticipated to take part within the polls throughout 2,822 polling models, with 570 candidates contesting for 68 seats.

Amupitan reiterated that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) can be deployed in all polling models to make sure correct voter accreditation.

He added that outcomes from the polling models can be uploaded to the INEC Consequence Viewing Portal (IReV) for transparency.

The INEC chairman disclosed that 89 observer {groups} and 700 journalists have been accredited to watch the election course of.

He additional said that safety businesses, together with the {Economic} and {Financial} Crimes Fee (EFCC) and the Impartial Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC), can be deployed to curb vote shopping for and preserve order.

“BVAS can be deployed in all polling models, with outcomes uploaded to IReV. The Fee has accredited 89 observer {groups} and 700 journalists to watch the method.

“Safety businesses, together with the EFCC and ICPC, can be on the bottom to curb vote shopping for and guarantee security. Perpetrators of vote-buying can be prosecuted,” the assertion learn.

INEC emphasised that elections are a shared duty and urged residents of the FCT to conduct themselves peacefully through the train.