The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that over 1.6 million residents of the Federal Capital Territory are registered to vote in the upcoming Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.
The total number of registered voters in the FCT rose to 1,680,315 following the recent revision of the voters’ register, according to FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Malam Aminu Idris.
Speaking at the INEC Forum for Media Executives, Producers, Reporters and On-Air Personalities in Abuja on Tuesday, Idris said,
“Following the revision of the register of voters, the total number of registered voters in the FCT is now 1,680,315.”
He added that the Commission has approved the decongestion of large Registration Area Centres to improve efficiency and the movement of personnel and materials on election day.
Sub-RACs have been established in Dutse Alhaji and Kubwa Wards of Bwari Area Council, as well as in Gwarinpa and Kabusa Wards of the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Idris disclosed that elections will not hold in four polling units across the FCT due to zero registration.
“There are three polling units in Garki Ward and one in Jiwa Ward where elections will not take place because no voters are registered,” he said.
On preparedness for the polls, Idris said INEC has made significant progress, including monitoring party primaries, publishing final candidate lists, batching non-sensitive materials, and activating Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices.
“We have commenced monitoring public campaigns, taken delivery of non-sensitive materials, opened portals for observer accreditation and recruitment of ad-hoc staff, and activated BVAS devices in readiness for configuration,” he explained.
He also said the accreditation of media organisations is ongoing and will close on February 8, 2026, while Permanent Voter Cards can still be collected at Area Council offices until February 10.
In preparation for the polls, INEC will conduct a mock accreditation exercise in 289 polling units across the six Area Councils to test voter accreditation, voting, and results upload processes.
“The purpose is to test-run the technologies that will be deployed on election day, from BVAS accreditation to voting and dummy results upload,” Idris said.
He urged the media to support voter education and discourage misinformation.
“Public confidence in elections is influenced not only by how the process is conducted, but also by how it is reported. We need accuracy over speed and facts over speculation,” he said, adding that INEC is committed to a “peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive” election.
Also speaking, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mallam Mohammed Haruna, said that virtually all non-sensitive election materials have been acquired and batched across six Area Councils, 62 Wards, and 2,822 polling units.
“We have acquired virtually all the non-sensitive materials required for the election and batched them according to the six Area Councils, 62 Wards and 2,822 polling units in the Territory,” he said.
Haruna confirmed that printing of sensitive materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, is on course and may be completed ahead of schedule.
“As is our established practice, the Commission will, in the presence of party agents, security personnel, civil society organisations and the media, take delivery of these sensitive materials from the FCT Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday, February 18, for distribution to Area Council offices ahead of the polls at 8:30 a.m. on February 21,” he said.
He assured that adequate BVAS devices are being prepared for deployment to all polling units.
“Adequate BVAS machines are being prepared for deployment to all the polling units in the Territory,” Haruna stated.
Explaining the FCT’s special status, he said,
“Section 299 of the Constitution says the FCT shall be treated as if it were one of the states. In practice, FCT Area Council elections are like governorship elections in the 36 states.”
He noted that this will be the first FCT Area Council election since the 2022 Electoral Act extended council tenure from three to four years, stressing,
“No stone must be left unturned to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.”
Haruna appealed to the media to promote voter participation.
“I would like to appeal to the media to use their platforms to educate and mobilise eligible voters to come out and vote. Your coverage should be informed by a sound understanding of the Constitution, Electoral Law and the Commission’s Guidelines,” he said.
On the election timetable, he said INEC has completed 10 of the 13 key activities, including the publication of the final Register of Voters on January 14.
The remaining steps include the Notice of Poll on February 7, the end of campaigns on February 19, and Election Day on February 21.
