Peace Committee Flags Risks Ahead Of FCT Polls

The National Peace Committee (NPC) has raised sensitive early-warning signals ahead of the February 21, 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections, prompting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to activate heightened security and integrity measures.

Delivering a detailed security briefing during a visit to INEC Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, the Head of the NPC Secretariat, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, Ph.D., outlined emerging risks across several FCT Area Councils, including vote-inducement pressures, community tensions, and vulnerabilities linked to wider insecurity in neighbouring states.

Receiving the delegation, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, described the advisory as “timely and invaluable,” assuring that the Commission would treat the intelligence with urgency and caution. He confirmed that the findings would be reviewed by INEC’s security department and shared with relevant agencies for coordinated action.

“We will not take this information for granted,” he said. “We will study it carefully and ensure that necessary steps are taken to secure the process.”

Prof. Amupitan noted that Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari and Kuje were marked for heightened attention based on the risk patterns presented.

He also reaffirmed INEC’s resolve to curb vote buying, stating that the Nigeria Police, EFCC and ICPC have been placed on alert to monitor and respond to any electoral malpractice.

The INEC Chairman emphasized that the Peace Accord remains a key instrument for safeguarding political conduct, adding that the 2026 elections form an essential part of the Commission’s preparations for the 2027 General Election.

Earlier, Rev. Fr. Barkindo conveyed the goodwill of the NPC Chairman, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (GCFR), and the Convener, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.

He pledged the Committee’s continued collaboration, noting that its Election Security and Information Hub has deployed networks nationwide to collect verified data on insecurity, conflict trends and electoral risks.

A hotspot analysis presented by The Kukah Centre highlighted AMAC, Gwagwalada, Bwari and Kuje as key areas requiring vigilance. AMAC was identified for elevated risks of vote buying; Gwagwalada for indigene-settler tensions and past incidents of political thuggery; Bwari for conflicts linked to farming activities, kidnappings and limited security presence; while Kwali was flagged due to its proximity to border communities facing spill-over insecurity.

According to the NPC, its monitoring framework tracks both pre-election incidents that could undermine the process and potential electoral offences, aligning with the provisions of the Peace Accord.