FCT Council Polls: INEC Assures Real-time Transmission Of Results

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured that results of the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections will be transmitted in real time from polling units.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance on Tuesday after assessing the commission’s level of preparedness in Kuje, Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils ahead of the February 21, 2026 polls.

Amupitan said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has consistently been used to accredit voters and transmit results in real time since its introduction, stressing that the commission would not compromise standards.

“BVAS is capable of accrediting and also of uploading and transmitting the results. So definitely the results will be transmitted,” he said.

Expressing satisfaction with the level of preparedness across the councils, Amupitan disclosed that Kuje Area Council reported 99.9 per cent readiness, Gwagwalada 90.8 per cent, while Bwari indicated 100 per cent preparedness.

“The report they gave us, I’ve verified that they are correct. In Kuje, they said they are 99.9% ready. In Gwagwalada, they said they are 90.8% ready. And in Bwari, they said they are 100% ready. So it means that there should be no excuse for any form of malfeasance. The election, it is hoped, will go very well,” he stated.

He added that both sensitive and non-sensitive materials had been batched and inspected, including verification inside storage facilities to confirm readiness.

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The INEC chairman emphasised that credible elections depend on timely deployment of materials and adequate security arrangements. He directed that security personnel and poll officials report to Registration Area Centres (RACs) on Friday to ensure early deployment on election day.

“Set out early so that materials get to polling units on time and voting should start at 8.30am. If you start on time and manage the process well, you can conclude voting by 2.30pm, begin counting before darkness and upload results promptly,” he said.

Amupitan reiterated that all results must be uploaded through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), noting that recent modifications require results to be properly keyed in and cross-checked at collation centres to ensure accuracy.

He also addressed voter apathy, stating that INEC would work within the law to restore public confidence in the electoral system.

“We want to do everything possible to meet the aspirations of Nigerians. They have the right to make demands, and we will perform our responsibilities to redeem confidence that is a little bit deficient,” he said.

The Electoral Officers of the three area councils separately affirmed their readiness for the polls, reinforcing INEC’s assurance of a credible and transparent election in the FCT.