- Wike has imposed movement restrictions in the territory from 8:00 p.m. on February 20 to 6:00 p.m.
- The President also appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to refrain from violence
- Amupitan, SAN, confirmed that the commission has completed preparations
President Bola Tinubu has called on voters, security personnel, and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials to maintain order and civility during the upcoming elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rivers, and Kano states scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
In a statement released on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Eko Hot Blog gathered that Tinubu urged all eligible citizens to exercise their right to vote without fear, emphasizing that democracy flourishes best in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Grand Wedding Reception: Halimot, Saheed Mark Their Union
- Ikosi-Ejinrin LCDA Celebrates Former Chairman, Hon. Segun Adetola, on Birthday
- Sanwo-Olu Flags Off Free Eye Screening for 1,000 Lagos Police Officers
The President also appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to refrain from violence, inflammatory rhetoric, or any conduct that could compromise the credibility of the polls.
He stressed that security forces are deployed to protect lives, property, and the integrity of the voting process.
Tinubu stated, “Fellow Nigerians, the Federal Government will continue to back institutions tasked with ensuring free, fair, and credible elections.
I commend the civic responsibility of residents in the FCT, Kano, and Rivers, and I am confident that these elections will reflect the true will of the people, strengthening our democratic journey.”
He further called on INEC to implement all necessary measures to boost voter confidence, including smooth accreditation, efficient voting, accurate collation, and timely transmission of results in line with the newly signed Electoral Act 2026.
INEC will oversee voting across six area councils in the FCT, covering 1,680,315 registered voters in 2,822 polling units. Bye-elections will also take place in Rivers State’s Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies, and in Kano State’s Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies, following resignations and the deaths of sitting legislators.
The Electoral Act 2026 introduces reforms such as statutory recognition of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and provisions for electronic transmission of results, while allowing manual collation where network issues occur.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, confirmed that the commission has completed preparations, including delivery of materials, training of officials, and configuration of BVAS devices. A total of 83 domestic and five foreign observer groups have been accredited to monitor the elections.
To ensure a peaceful voting environment, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has imposed movement restrictions in the territory from 8:00 p.m. on February 20 to 6:00 p.m. on February 21, 2026.
FURTHER READING
