INEC Assures Real-Time Result Transmission for FCT Area Council Polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that results from the upcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections will be electronically transmitted in real time. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave this assurance on Tuesday during an inspection tour of Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari Area Councils ahead of the February 21, 2026, polls.
During his review of logistics, Amupitan emphasized that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) remains the primary tool for both voter verification and the immediate upload of results. “BVAS is capable of accrediting and also of uploading and transmitting the results. So definitely the results will be transmitted,” he stated, noting that the commission will not lower its technical standards.
The Chairman shared high readiness scores from the councils visited, with Kuje reporting 99.9% readiness, Gwagwalada at 90.8%, and Bwari at 100%. After personally verifying materials in these facilities, Amupitan noted that such advanced preparation should eliminate excuses for irregularities or “malfeasance” during the voting exercise.
To ensure a smooth process, all sensitive and non-sensitive materials have been sorted and inspected. Amupitan directed security agencies and election officials to arrive at their Registration Area Centres (RACs) by Friday to facilitate early movement. He urged officials to start exactly at 8:30 am to ensure voting and counting are concluded before nightfall.
On the transparency of the collation process, the INEC boss reiterated that all results must be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). He explained that recent system updates now require meticulous data entry at collation centers to prevent discrepancies, aiming to enhance the overall accuracy of the final tallies.
Addressing the issue of waning public trust, Amupitan acknowledged existing voter apathy but pledged that the commission would operate strictly by the law. “We want to do everything possible to meet the aspirations of Nigerians… and we will perform our responsibilities to redeem confidence that is a little bit deficient,” he said.
Local Electoral Officers in the visited councils confirmed that personnel training is complete and materials are in place. With over 1.6 million registered voters across 2,822 polling units, this election serves as a critical test for INEC’s systems exactly one year before the 2027 general elections
