By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Ahead of the upcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election and subsequent elections in Nigeria, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan has called the country’s security agencies to maintain their neutrality and professionalism while on election duties.
This is even as he told them that elections succeed when the institutions like the security agencies work in harmony for the sake of the citizens.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, gave this charge on Friday in Abuja at the first consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for the year.
He urged the security agencies to strengthen coordination and remain professional as Nigeria enters a busy election season in 2026, adding that 2026 would be a demanding year, with the FCT Area Council elections, bye-elections in Kano and Rivers States, and off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun respectively as well as the 2027 General Election.
Amupitan however, stressed that elections could not be credible if citizens did not feel safe to vote in the elections, insisting that safety of the electorates and INEC staff are paramount in the elections.
Said he: “The credibility of our elections, and indeed our democracy, depends largely on your ability to secure the electoral process from start to finish.”
Speaking further Amupitan said: “2026 is a very busy electoral year. From Area Council elections to bye-elections and off-cycle governorship elections, the tempo of electoral activities is rising steadily as we move towards the 2027 General Election.
“This reality places a greater burden on our collective shoulders. Security agencies must, therefore, up the ante in planning, deployment, intelligence gathering and inter-agency coordination, to ensure that every electoral activity is conducted in a safe, peaceful and credible environment.”
He however, praised security agencies for their role in the peaceful conduct of the Anambra State governorship election in November 2025, noting that their deployment, intelligence sharing and quick response to threats helped INEC declare a winner on the first ballot.
But ahead of the FCT Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026, the INEC boss called on security agencies to enforce the law, prevent the use of thugs, curb vote buying and protect voters and election workers.
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