FCT Polls: 70 CSOs Demand Real-Time Upload of Results, Warn of Electoral Fraud

A coalition of over 70 Civil Society Organisations under the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure the real-time electronic upload of polling unit results in Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections.

The coalition also warned of potential electoral malpractice, vote trading, and security risks that could undermine the credibility of the polls.

In a preliminary statement released on Friday and jointly signed by the Convener, Mr Yunusa Ya’u and Co-Conveners Mma Odi and Celestine Odo, the group urged INEC to upload Form EC8A results in real time to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

“We challenge INEC to prove its commitment to transparency by ensuring 100 per cent real-time upload of Form EC8A to the IReV portal,” the coalition stated.

The group stressed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System must function optimally to prevent technical delays experienced in previous local elections.

“The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System is expected to function optimally, to prevent the delays that have characterised previous local polls. INEC must ensure that trained personnel are readily available to handle technical issues swiftly, ensuring that voters are not disenfranchised due to faulty equipment,” the statement added.

The CSOs further demanded that polls open at 8:30 a.m. across all 2,822 polling units in the FCT to prevent voter disenfranchisement.

The coalition said its position was informed partly by outcomes of a strategic meeting between the National Peace Committee and INEC held on February 10, which helped map security risks across the FCT’s Area Councils.

It identified the Abuja Municipal Area Council as a high-risk area, citing concerns over vote buying and political intimidation, particularly in urban centres where competition is intense.

Gwagwalada was also flagged for potential indigene-settler tensions and political thuggery.

The group noted that voter apathy remains a persistent challenge, especially in urban councils such as AMAC. It recalled that during the 2022 FCT Area Council elections, voter turnout in AMAC stood at 5.09 per cent out of 1,373,492 registered voters at the time.

“We recall with deep concern that in the 2022 FCT Area Council elections, out of the 1,373,492 registered voters at the time, the total voter turnout in AMAC was an abysmally low 5.09 per cent,” the statement read.

The coalition argued that public disillusionment may worsen if electronic transmission of results is not mandated.

“When citizens feel that the law does not guarantee the transparent transmission of their votes, a sentiment which may now be exacerbated by the failure to mandate real-time electronic transmission of election results in the 2026 Act, it reinforces a sense of disillusionment,” it stated.

The CSOs also raised concerns over conflicting announcements on movement restrictions. While the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, declared Friday, February 20, work-free with movement restricted from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 p.m. Saturday, the FCT Police Command announced the usual restriction from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day.

“This announcement on restriction of movement creates some confusion and is in contradiction with the announcement of the FCT Police Command, which is the security agency statutorily in charge of elections in Nigeria,” the group said.

While commending the deployment of security personnel, the coalition urged officers to remain non-partisan and prevent vote buying.

“We call on the FCT Commissioner of Police to take charge of security to ensure free flow of movement for those on election duty and that officers prevent vote buying, which has become a recurring decimal in recent off-cycle elections. Security agents must remain non-partisan and prioritise the protection of voters, observers, and INEC officials,” the statement said.

The coalition also encouraged eligible voters to participate peacefully and resist inducements.

“Voters must resist the temptation to exchange their votes for money or other inducements, as their future welfare depends on the choices they make. Vote trading is illegal and undermines the development of our democracy,” it added.

Voters across Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Abaji and Kwali are expected to elect chairmen and councillors in the polls.

A total of 68 positions are being contested, comprising six chairmanship seats and 62 councillorship positions.