INEC duties media on accountable protection, voter mobilisation forward FCT council polls

The Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) has known as on the media to accentuate voter schooling, promote professionalism and uphold moral requirements in election protection forward of the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Space Council Elections.

The decision was made in Abuja on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at a discussion board for media executives, producers, reporters and on-air personalities, organised by the Fee as a part of its ongoing stakeholder engagement for the forthcoming election.

Talking on the discussion board, the Supervising Nationwide Commissioner for the FCT and Chairman, Info and Voter Training Committee (IVEC), Malam Mohammed Haruna, underscored the central function of the media in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, stressing that voter participation and accountable reportage stay key to the credibility of elections.

He urged media organisations to make use of their platforms to coach and mobilise eligible voters, noting that efficient election protection requires not solely a sound understanding of the Structure, the Electoral Act and INEC’s Guidelines and Tips, but in addition integrity, equity and strict adherence to the Code of Conduct for Election Protection.

Commissioner Haruna cautioned that whereas journalists, like all residents, might maintain private views, such prejudices must not ever intervene with goal {and professional} reporting, including that democracy thrives when the media locations public curiosity above partisanship.

Offering an replace on INEC’s preparedness, the Nationwide Commissioner disclosed that the Fee had efficiently performed 10 of the 13 key actions outlined within the Timetable and Schedule of Actions for the election.

He mentioned the newest milestone was the publication of the ultimate Register of Voters on January 14, 2026, copies of which have been distributed to all political events collaborating within the election.

In line with him, the remaining actions are the publication of the Discover of Ballot on February 7, the top of political occasion campaigns on February 19, and Election Day on February 21.

Malam Haruna additionally highlighted different important preparations not listed within the timetable, together with the accreditation of observers and journalists, which have been performed on-line because the lead-up to the 2023 Normal Election as a part of INEC’s technological improvements.

Whereas the observer accreditation portal has closed, he famous that the media accreditation portal stays open till February 8, urging media organisations but to use to take action promptly to allow well timed issuance of accreditation playing cards.

On logistics, he revealed that the Fee had acquired nearly all non-sensitive supplies required for the election and batched them in line with the six Space Councils, 62 Wards and a couple of,822 Polling Items within the FCT.

He added that delicate supplies, together with poll papers and consequence sheets, can be printed forward of time and formally acquired from the Central {Bank} of Nigeria (CBN), FCT Department, on February 18, within the presence of occasion brokers, safety companies, civil society organisations and the media.

He additional disclosed that satisfactory Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines had been being configured and ready for deployment to all polling items.

Commissioner Haruna defined that though FCT Space Council elections are much like Native Authorities elections performed by State Impartial Electoral Commissions, Part 299 of the Structure applies the Structure to the FCT “as if it had been one of many States of the Federation.”

“In sensible phrases, FCT Space Council elections are performed like governorship elections,” he mentioned, noting that the FCT’s voting inhabitants is bigger than these of Bayelsa and Ekiti States. He added that the Territory’s standing because the political capital of Nigeria naturally attracts nationwide and worldwide consideration.

He burdened that as the primary FCT Space Council Election because the Electoral Act prolonged council tenure from three to 4 years, the Fee was decided to depart no stone unturned to make sure a free, honest and credible ballot.

Earlier in his welcome handle, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the FCT, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, described the discussion board as a strategic platform for strengthening collaboration and aligning expectations between INEC and the media forward of the elections.

He famous that public confidence in elections is formed not solely by how the method is performed, but in addition by how it’s reported and communicated, stressing that INEC’s dedication to a peaceable, clear and inclusive election can’t be achieved with out the assist of a accountable {and professional} media.

The REC outlined the Fee’s stage of preparedness, itemizing actions already undertaken, together with the monitoring of occasion primaries, publication of ultimate lists of candidates, marketing campaign monitoring, supply and batching of non-sensitive supplies, activation of BVAS units, stakeholder engagements, voter schooling and sensitisation, collaboration with safety companies, and the coaching of election safety personnel.

He disclosed that INEC had permitted the alternative of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Igu Ward in Bwari Space Council following the demise of the preliminary candidate, Zachariah James Danbaki, with Danbaki Titus rising because the alternative.

Malam Idris additionally introduced that the Fee would conduct a mock accreditation train in 289 chosen polling items throughout the six Space Councils to check election applied sciences, together with BVAS accreditation, voting procedures and dummy consequence uploads to the INEC Consequence Viewing (IReV) portal. He known as on the media to present the train vast publicity to make sure voter consciousness and participation.

On voter statistics, the REC revealed that following the revision of the register, the overall variety of registered voters within the FCT now stands at 1,680,315. He added that INEC had permitted the decongestion of huge Registration Space Centres (RACs) in choose wards of Bwari Space Council and the Abuja Municipal Space Council (AMAC) to reinforce effectivity on Election Day.

He additional clarified that elections wouldn’t maintain in 4 polling items, hree in Garki Ward and one in Jiwa Ward, as a result of absence of registered voters.

In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, Ms. Grace Ike, recommended INEC for convening the discussion board, describing it as well timed in an period the place misinformation spreads sooner than info.

She famous that elections usually are not solely received or misplaced at polling items, but in addition within the data area, urging journalists to prioritise accuracy over pace, reject hate speech and incitement, guarantee equity and stability, and uphold professionalism of their protection.

Ms. Ike additionally emphasised the significance of the protection and safety of journalists, calling on INEC, safety companies, political events and their supporters to respect the media and assure the protection of reporters and their tools earlier than, throughout and after the elections.

She additional known as for sustained transparency and efficient communication from INEC to counter rumours and faux outcomes, noting that data gaps typically gas misinformation.