Jane Salihu
The Electoral Hub has commended residents of the Federal Capital Territory for the peaceful conduct of the February 21, 2026 Area Council elections, describing the exercise as relatively free, fair and orderly across the six councils.
In a post-election statement released on February 23, the organisation also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for demonstrating professionalism and transparency in the management of the polls.
In a statement signed by The Electoral Hub, the group said it deployed accredited observers across polling units and collation centres to assess operational efficiency, legal compliance, inclusivity and overall electoral integrity.
It noted that while INEC played a central role, the credibility of elections depends on the collective responsibility of political parties, security agencies, civil society, the media and voters.
The observers reported that voting was largely peaceful in the polling units visited, with no incidents of voter intimidation or vote buying recorded in those locations. Poll closing and counting procedures were described as calm and transparent, reinforcing confidence in the procedural integrity of the exercise.
The Hub particularly highlighted improvements in the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which it said facilitated swift biometric accreditation and curbed multiple voting. Although minor technical glitches and connectivity issues were observed in a few areas, the technology was credited with strengthening real-time monitoring and public trust in the process.
The uploading of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) was also commended for enhancing transparency. According to the statement, result uploads across the six area councils steadily increased from election night into the early hours of Sunday, substantially reducing information gaps that often fuel post-election disputes.
Security deployment under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) framework was described as adequate during voting. However, the Hub expressed concern over isolated incidents of violence during collation in some wards, including clashes between party supporters in Kwali and Gwagwa, underscoring the need for strengthened post-poll security at collation centres.
Despite the generally peaceful conduct, the group identified very low voter turnout as a major concern. It estimated participation at about 15 per cent of the 1.68 million registered voters, with some polling units recording strikingly low figures compared to their registration strength. The Hub linked the apathy to structural challenges and possible public uncertainty following the late assent to the Electoral Act 2026, just days before the poll.
Logistical shortcomings were also flagged, including inadequate shade, insufficient tables and incomplete voting cubicles in some polling units, which affected ballot secrecy and professionalism.
Observers further noted uneven distribution and poor siting of polling units in parts of the FCT, accessibility challenges caused by road blockades, and gaps in ad-hoc staff deployment and welfare.
While acknowledging progress in technology deployment, results transparency and procedural compliance, The Electoral Hub stressed the need for reforms in geographic mapping of polling units, logistics planning, personnel deployment and voter education. It urged citizens and stakeholders to remain actively engaged in defending electoral accountability and strengthening democratic governance in the FCT and across Nigeria.
