The Independent National Electoral Commission has expressed its readiness for the Federal Capital Area Council Elections, revealing that at least 1.6 million people are expected to participate in the FCT Area Council elections on February 21, following the revision of the number of eligible registered voters during the voters’ registration and revalidation exercise.
This was disclosed by the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Malam Aminu Idris, in Abuja, on Tuesday, stating that the total number of registered voters for the area council elections is 1,680,315.
Speaking to media executives and journalists, Malam Idris revealed that the commission has completed major steps aimed at ensuring a smooth, fair, and credible election across the six area councils.
He said, “Following the revision of the register of voters, the total number of registered voters in the FCT is now 1,680,315.”
The REC further explained that INEC has authorized the decongestion of overcrowded Registration Area Centers to enhance effectiveness and ease the movement of personnel and election materials on polling day.
This decision led to the establishment of sub-RACs in Dutse Alhaji and Kubwa Wards of Bwari Area Council, as well as in Gwarinpa and Kabusa Wards of the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Idris, however, explained that elections would not be held in four polling units across the FCT because no voters were registered during the last voter registration and revalidation exercise, adding that three of the affected polling units are in Garki Ward, while the remaining one is in Jiwa Ward, all due to zero voter registration.
He further stated that INEC has improved in several areas, such as overseeing party primaries, releasing the final list of candidates, receiving and sorting non-sensitive election materials, and deploying the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mallam Mohammed Haruna, also addressed the gathering, stating that the commission has acquired and allocated the non-sensitive materials required for the 2,822 polling units across the 62 wards in the FCT.
Haruna said: “As is our established practice, the Commission will, in the presence of party agents, security personnel, civil society organizations and the media, take delivery of these sensitive materials from the FCT Branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday, February 18, for distribution to Area Council offices ahead of the polls at 8:30 a.m. on February 21”.
“No stone must be left unturned to ensure that the election is free, fair, and credible,” he added.
