Police Assure Of Robust Security For Peaceful FCT Area Council Polls

Security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), operating under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), have assured residents of adequate security arrangements ahead of the 2026 FCT Area Council elections.

The assurance was given during an ICCES security meeting convened as preparations intensified for the polls scheduled to hold in about a month’s time.

Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, and Co-Chairman of ICCES, CP Miller Dantawaye, said the committee had concluded plans to establish a joint situation room to coordinate security operations before, during and after the elections.

He disclosed that police personnel would be deployed immediately to secure facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

According to him, adequate security would also be provided at designated centres for the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection exercise across the 62 Registration Areas in the territory.

CP Dantawaye further assured that ICCES was committed to addressing operational challenges that often delay the early deployment of security personnel on election day.

He added that special attention would be given to identified security flashpoints to ensure a smooth and peaceful conduct of the Area Council polls.

In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for FCT, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, commended ICCES for its sustained commitment to securing electoral activities in the territory.

He noted that the contributions of security agencies over the years had ensured the safe implementation of INEC programmes.

With the election less than a month away, Malam Idris said heightened security efforts were crucial to boosting public confidence and encouraging voters’ participation in the democratic process.

Also speaking, the Administrative Secretary of INEC in FCT, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, said the Commission’s election activities were time-bound and were being implemented progressively in line with the schedule.

She explained that INEC was engaging a broad spectrum of election stakeholders to strengthen the electoral ecosystem and ensure the successful conduct of activities leading up to the Area Council elections.

The ICCES meeting ended with a resolution to hold another consultative session ahead of the polls to further fine-tune security arrangements for the election.