The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted allegations that voters were reassigned to different polling units during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, insisting that no such relocations occurred.
The Commission clarified that adjustments made prior to the polls were strictly administrative measures aimed at easing congestion at overcrowded centres, not to alter voters’ designated locations.
It emphasized that these measures were transparently communicated in advance and implemented within the same voting environments to avoid disenfranchisement or confusion among the electorate.
In a statement signed by Acting Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Wilfred Ifogah, INEC stated that the polls held on Saturday in the FCT did not involve any transfer of registered voters.
Polling units with more than 1,250 registrants were divided, with the new units positioned only a few metres from the original locations within the same premises.
The voters’ register was displayed at the designated centres and the newly created units four days before the election to enable verification of details. Affected voters also received text messages and emails between February 18 and February 21, notifying them of their specific voting points.
The Commission acknowledged that some voters experienced difficulty locating their assigned centres on election day. According to INEC’s Election Operations Dashboard, 45 per cent of polling units had commenced accreditation and voting by 8:30am, while all units were operational by 10:00am.
Regarding participation, INEC expressed concern about voter apathy, but noted an improvement compared to 2022. A total of 239,210 voters participated in the 2026 poll, representing about 15 per cent of the 1,680,315 registered voters in the FCT, compared with 148,685 voters, or 9.4 per cent, in the previous council election.
INEC also explained that the delayed declaration of results in Kuje Area Council, announced at 3:30pm on Sunday, was due to the challenging terrain of Kabi ward, which slowed collation. The Commission commended residents for their peaceful conduct and cooperation throughout the electoral process.
