FCT Polls: INEC bares fang on erring Ad Hoc staff, transporters ...As states seek assistance on BVAS, IReV

Abuja: The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has moved to sanction personnel and contractors linked to the delayed commencement of polls during the February 21 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory FCT. 

Addressing Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs on Wednesday in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, expressed dissatisfaction with the logistics performance, revealing that only 45 percent of polling units opened at the scheduled time of 8:30am.

He said; "There will be consequences for any act capable of sabotaging the process. We have identified some of the staff in Kuje Area Council and Kabusa Ward in the Municipal that caused logistic delay and I have directed that they should be queried. In addition, the transporter that caused some delay in Kwali Area Council will be blacklisted."

The chairman emphasized that while the Commission achieved 100 percent opening by 10am, the initial tardiness was "unacceptable" and undermined public confidence.

He warned that as the Commission prepares for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections and the 2027 General Election, "excellence is not optional; it is mandatory."

The meeting also had in attendance the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria FOSIECON, led by its Chairman, Mamman Nda Eri.

The forum, which oversees local government elections at the subnational level, requested structured technical support from INEC to adapt its technological innovations.

"INEC’s experience with digital innovations such as the BVAS and IReV platforms offers valuable lessons. We seek dialogue on how SIECs can adapt appropriate technological tools within existing constitutional and legal frameworks", said Eri. 

He proposed joint training programmes and mentorship for state officials in election planning and ICT systems to deepen the credibility of grassroots democracy.

Responding to the quest for technological collaboration, Prof. Amupitan noted that the Commission has introduced new safeguards to the BVAS system to "curb all manner of manipulation" during results transmission.

He explained that the system now performs internal validation checks where total votes cannot exceed accredited voters and over-voting is automatically flagged.

The INEC Chairman also addressed the "so-called voter migration" concerns, clarifying that no voters were redistributed in 2026. He explained that the decongestion of polling units occurred in 2022, though he admitted that "if citizens do not understand our processes, then the objective is only half achieved."

The session featured the swearing-in of Dr. Chukwu Chukwu-Emeka Joseph as the Resident Electoral Commissioner representing Abia state. 

Prof. Amupitan urged the RECs to return to their states with "heightened vigilance," stressing that the Commission’s credibility is built on performance rather than declarations.

"The road ahead is demanding. We must approach these tasks with humility to acknowledge shortcomings and resolve to correct them decisively", he stated.