Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has strongly advised staff members of the commission to perform their duties diligently as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections approach on February 21.
INEC has announced its plan to engage a total of 1,132 vehicles from transport unions to facilitate seamless election logistics for the upcoming polls. Concurrently, various stakeholders have urged INEC to maintain impartiality and resist political influence during the area council elections.
Speaking in Abuja during an inspection visit and a general assembly with FCT staff, Amupitan highlighted that the election serves as a crucial test for the commission and an avenue to rebuild public trust in the electoral system.
The INEC Chairman, in a released statement, impressed upon the staff of the FCT office the importance of taking full responsibility for the upcoming area council elections, asserting that any failure in duty would result in significant repercussions.
"You are the foot soldiers. The success of this election rests on how you perform your responsibilities," he stated.
He reminded personnel that "under the Electoral Act, 2022, there are clear consequences for misconduct, including faulty declaration of results".
"Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. We need to let everyone know that there are consequences for dereliction of duty," Amupitan added.
Amupitan emphasized the critical need for strict adherence to INEC's regulations, effective deployment of technology, and transparent management of results. He also encouraged electoral officers to be proactive in resolving challenges encountered at polling units.
He identified punctuality as a key factor for election success, directing that all polling units must be operational by 8:00 AM to allow voting to commence at 8:30 AM as scheduled.
"When you start on time, you close by 2:30 p.m., and results can be concluded before nightfall. That is the beginning of success," he remarked.
Amupitan cautioned that any delays must be immediately reported to the commission to ensure INEC remains the authoritative source of real-time information.
Earlier, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Aminu Idris, provided an update on the preparations for the area council elections, assuring the chairman that all non-sensitive materials have been successfully dispatched to the six area council offices.
He confirmed, "We have received all the non-sensitive materials, which have been moved to the area council offices."
"Training of staff commenced on 13th – 15th February 2026 and we are conducting additional training today to address the shortfall in turnout."
In parallel, INEC indicated that it would hire a total of 1,132 vehicles from transport unions in preparation for Saturday's FCT elections. This was disclosed by Amupitan in Abuja during a meeting with transport union leaders at the FCT INEC Office.
He stressed that the electoral body would not accept any excuses from the transport unions, insisting that their services must align with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) they signed with INEC.
"We are pleased to note that there is a partnership that has been existing for years between INEC and the two unions, especially as it relates to transport logistics. And of course, you know that your election can only be good as your logistics," Amupitan stated.
The INEC chairman acknowledged the unions as vital stakeholders in the electoral process, contributing to free, fair, and credible elections through their partnership with the commission.
However, he expressed significant concern over logistical issues that have plagued past elections, citing the Anambra State governorship election as a near disaster due to the poor condition of vehicles provided by the unions.
"However, we have noticed some challenges in relation to transport logistics, and we are very concerned and worried. I will give you some of the examples, most especially at the last Anambra State Election.
"It was almost a disaster, because we were almost disappointed. The vehicles that were brought by the unions to transport sensitive materials from Enugu to Awka, we were not particularly happy because they were really non-serviceable vehicles.
"And at the last minute, we also found that some of your representatives could not meet up and even discovered that some of the vehicles were farmed out to others.
"And let me also say that we had to revert, in some cases, to Option B, which was having to rely on some vehicles that were brought from other states to be able to meet up," he explained.
Amupitan elaborated, "So this time around, we are talking of hiring about 1,132 vehicles from the two unions, and for an election that will feature about 570 candidates. For the chairmanship and vice chairmanship position, and about 62 or 68 councillorship positions. And you are talking about 2,822 polling units in the FCT, in the six area councils.
"We have emphasised to you in the morning that we don’t want to listen to any excuses. You know, there are some excuses that are genuine, but we don’t even want any excuse, whether genuine or non-genuine."
He reiterated that the electoral body's objective is for the election to commence promptly at 8:00 AM.
In response, Mercy Ibeh, Director of Legal Affairs for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), stated that the issues raised by Amupitan are familiar and are typically addressed during discussions between the union and INEC.
The NURTW Chairman for FCT, Abdullahi Dauda, acknowledged that challenges are inherent in any programme, and the focus should be on resolving them once identified.
The Nigerian Women Trust Fund emphasized the significance of area council or local government elections for a stable democratic system in any nation.
Its Communication Manager, Mujidat Agbabiaka-Sholeye, noted that as the closest government tier to the populace, these elections require meticulous conduct, dedication to fairness, justice, and accountability.
Mr. Akinloye Oyeniyi, a legislative expert and public affairs analyst, commented that based on the outcomes of the 2023 general election in the nation's capital, a tough contest was expected for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) due to various factors.
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