INEC, security agencies gear up for FCT polls, 2027 general elections 

Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has called for heightened security coordination as electoral activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general election.

Amupitan spoke in Abuja on Friday at the first regular meeting of the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for 2026.

According to the chairman, the year would be particularly busy, with area council elections, bye-elections and off-cycle governorship polls, stressing that security agencies must strengthen planning, intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration.

Amupitan commended security agencies for their role in the peaceful conduct of the Anambra State governorship election on November 8, 2025.

He said their professionalism ensured a secure environment that enabled the commission to conclude the process and declare a winner on the first ballot.

Amupitan said attention was now focused on the Federal Capital Territory area council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026. He disclosed that the poll would involve 1,680,315 registered voters across 2,822 polling units in the six area councils.

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He said INEC had concluded major preparations, including training of electoral officers and security personnel, delivery of non-sensitive materials, and configuration of BVAS devices, adding that a mock accreditation exercise would hold on February 7 in 289 selected polling units.

Amupitan also announced that bye-elections would hold the same day in Ahoada East II and Khana II state constituencies in Rivers State, as well as Kano Municipal and Ungogo state constituencies in Kano State.

He said the Ekiti governorship election would take place on June 20, 2026, while Osun would vote on August 8, 2026, noting that early security planning was already underway.

The INEC chairman added that the commission would soon begin a nationwide voter revalidation exercise alongside the ongoing continuous voter registration, calling for security support to protect personnel, facilities and citizens.

In his remarks, Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, Office of the National Adviser, ONSA, and co-chair of ICCES represented by Hassan Abdullahi, director, internal security, praised INEC and security agencies for the Anambra election.

He said the Nigeria Police Force, as lead agency for election security, would deploy adequate personnel to polling units and flashpoints, while political thugs and vote buyers would be identified and dealt with in line with the law.

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Abdullahi urged political actors, the media, civil society groups and community leaders to promote peaceful conduct and support credible elections.

Also representing, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector general of police assured of massive nationwide deployment and sustained protection of INEC facilities, personnel and election materials before, during and after elections.

Egbetokun was represented by Abayomi Shogunle, commissioner of police elections, Force Headquarters.

The meeting was attended by the national security adviser, heads of security and intelligence agencies, national commissioners of INEC and senior officials of the commission.