The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has described Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections as peaceful, orderly, and efficiently conducted, with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioning effectively.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan made the remarks after visiting several polling units across the territory and speaking with members of the commission’s press corps.
“You can see for yourself that the election is orderly, efficient, and peaceful. Those are the hallmarks of a good election,” Amupitan said. He noted that voter turnout was encouraging, with many residents showing up to cast their ballots.
The chairman praised the performance of BVAS, highlighting its role in maintaining electoral integrity. “The machines have worked effectively.
Accreditation takes less than five seconds, and if a voter is not accredited, they cannot vote,” he said, adding that the technology would remain critical ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While most polling units reported smooth operations, Amupitan confirmed a security incident in Abaji Area Council.
He said rapid deployment of security personnel restored order and voting resumed without further disruption.
The FCT elections are being conducted across six councils, Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kwali, Kuje, and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), with 637 candidates from 17 political parties contesting 68 positions, including 62 councillor seats and six chairmanship offices.
AMAC, the largest council, has 12 wards, while the other five councils have 10 wards each.
Out of 1,680,315 registered voters in the FCT, 1,587,025 have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and are eligible to vote at 2,822 polling units. INEC deployed 4,345 BVAS machines to facilitate accreditation and ensure a smooth voting process.
