INEC Begins Mock Accreditation in Preparation for FCT Council Elections

As a prelude to the Area Council elections on February 21, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission, or INEC, conducted a simulated accreditation and voting exercise throughout the Federal Capital Territory, or FCT, on Saturday.

The exercise’s objectives were to evaluate INEC’s operational preparedness, test recent enhancements, and increase election officials’ capacity before the polls.

Speaking during a Train-the-Trainers session for trainees preparing to become Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs), INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) encouraged participants to properly familiarize themselves with the commission’s official training handbook and to take the exercise seriously.

“A lot of interaction is going on here. “It is not just about what you are taught, but about your understanding of what is being taught,” Amupitan stated, adding that the guidebook was created to guarantee consistency between all area councils.

He stressed that Nigeria urgently needs a genuine and stable electoral process, reminded the trainees of their statutory duties, and warned against making concessions.

He said that INEC is still dedicated to restoring public confidence by thorough field testing, simulations, and training.

The INEC chairman declared his pleasure with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System’s (BVAS) performance during a field evaluation of the simulated exercise, calling it a “game changer” in Nigeria’s election process.

Essentially, this is a test of our readiness for the election. The BVAS’s functioning is our primary concern. He declared, “We don’t want to use the main election as a test run.

The possibility to test the device and its latest improvements under election-like conditions was made possible by the mock poll, Amupitan explained.

According to him, repeated voting and double accreditation were avoided by the system’s effective operation.

“I am really happy that the BVAS has performed really well so far,” he added, adding that attempts to re-accredit a voter who had already cast a ballot were promptly identified and stopped by the system.

He added that, in keeping with a genuine election, party agents were present and results sheets were properly signed, enhancing transparency.

Amupitan said the mock election nonetheless produced insightful comments and functioned as a platform for voter sensitization even though civil society observers were anticipated at the event.

“It seems like a really worthwhile activity based on my observations. Additionally, we are using this to raise awareness and encourage people to cast ballots on February 21st,” he stated.

Regarding the readiness of INEC, the chairman said that all non-sensitive material batches had been deployed, training was in progress, and presiding officers would start training the following week.

Every system that had been tested up to this point, he said, was operating correctly.

Although Amupitan acknowledged ongoing worries about voter indifference, he was hopeful that turnout will increase and stated that INEC was stepping up its efforts to educate locals about the election.

He promised that backup plans had been established to handle difficulties in rural and satellite towns, especially those pertaining to the network.

Regarding the electronic transmission of results, the chairman of INEC stated that the matter is still in front of the National Assembly and asked for patience while the legislative process is ongoing.

“The process of passing laws is still in progress. The two compartments will be in harmony. He said, “Let’s avoid causing needless stress.”