The Nigeria Police Force, Federal Capital Territory Command, has deployed personnel across Abuja ahead of the February 21 Area Council elections, while announcing a restriction of movement on election day.
The command said residents’ movement would be limited from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except for election officials and essential service providers.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has cleared candidates from 17 political parties to contest the polls, which will fill 68 elective positions — six area council chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship positions across the FCT’s six councils. About 1.68 million registered voters are expected to participate.
In a statement on Wednesday, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, said the security deployment was part of a coordinated operational plan involving multiple agencies.
“This deployment forms part of a comprehensive operational order for the February 21, 2026 Area Council elections,” she said.
“It includes collaboration and support from sister security agencies such as the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
Adeh noted that the Commissioner of Police in the FCT, Miller Dantawaye, had directed officers to conduct themselves professionally and ensure adequate protection of electoral materials, polling units and collation centres.
“The Commissioner of Police has charged all deployed personnel to remain professional, vigilant and impartial while ensuring proper security coverage at polling units and collation centres to guarantee a peaceful, free and fair election,” she said.
“Officers are also expected to respect citizens’ rights while carrying out their duties.”
Announcing the movement restriction, Adeh appealed to residents to cooperate with security agencies and follow election-day guidelines.
“The public is hereby informed that movement across the FCT will be restricted between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on February 21, except for essential service providers and election officials,” she stated.
“Residents are urged to remain law-abiding and come out to exercise their civic responsibility peacefully, as adequate security measures have been put in place.”
The police assured voters that the security arrangement was designed to enable them to cast their ballots without fear or intimidation.
