FCT Polls: INEC Flags Off Deployment Of Sensitive Materials, Amidst Tight Security

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the deployment of sensitive materials ahead of Saturday’s Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory, following the receipt of all materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday.

The handover exercise took place at the Old CBN premises in Garki under heavy security, with representatives of political parties, civil society organisations, accredited observers, and journalists present to monitor the process.

The retrieved materials include ballot papers, result sheets and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.

Speaking shortly after the collection, the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Aminu Idris, said all stakeholders were deliberately invited to witness the process as part of the Commission’s commitment to openness and accountability.

He added that adequate security arrangements have been made for the movement of the materials to the six Area Council offices, with further distribution to Registration Area Centres (RACs) scheduled to begin on Friday.

Idris appealed to residents to turn out in large numbers on Saturday, assuring that INEC was fully prepared to conduct a credible, peaceful and inclusive election across the territory.

Meanwhile, the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, had earlier reaffirmed the Commission’s neutrality and readiness to deliver a transparent process in the FCT polls. He warned political actors against vote-buying and other malpractices, stressing that INEC would maintain professionalism and ensure that every vote counts.

Amupitan also noted that all logistic arrangements, including material deployment and result management, were designed to strengthen public confidence, adding that security agencies had been fully briefed to safeguard the exercise without obstructing legitimate participation.

With the receipt and onward deployment of sensitive materials, INEC says it has concluded all major preparations ahead of Saturday’s Area Council election across the Federal Capital Territory.

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