Nigeria’s electoral commission said it will deploy electronic accreditation devices in all polling units and upload results to a public viewing portal for Saturday’s area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, as security agencies announced a temporary restriction of movement.
The Independent National Electoral Commission said Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, or BVAS, machines will be used in the 2,822 polling units across the territory’s six area councils to verify voters and transmit results.
At a stakeholders’ forum Wednesday, commission chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan said the measures are aimed at ensuring transparency and credibility in the Feb. 21 vote.
“Any individual found buying or selling votes will be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said, noting that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission would be deployed to deter vote trading and other electoral offenses.
INEC said 3,345 BVAS devices will support accreditation and result transmission, while at least 11,288 ad hoc personnel — four officials per polling unit — have been assigned for the exercise. Supervisory presiding officers will coordinate activities at ward centers.
Sensitive materials, including ballot papers, BVAS machines and result sheets, are being deployed early to council offices to prevent delays, officials said. A total of 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles and 14 boats have been arranged for logistics.
INEC has accredited 89 observer groups and 700 journalists to monitor the elections. About 1.68 million registered voters are expected to participate.
The Nigeria Police Force announced a territory-wide restriction of movement from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day, exempting essential service providers and election officials.
FCT police spokesperson Josephine Adeh said the deployment involves coordination with other security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Police Commissioner Miller Dantawaye directed officers to remain professional, impartial and vigilant while ensuring security at polling units and collation centers, Adeh said.
Seventeen political parties are fielding 637 candidates for 68 elective positions across 62 wards in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji.
Major parties, including the All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and Social Democratic Party, are contesting key positions. Political observers have described the vote as a precursor to the 2027 general elections.
