The Independent National Electoral Commission has committed to ensuring votes count in upcoming elections in Osun State and the Federal Capital Territory. Resident Electoral Commissioners emphasized transparency and adherence to the rule of law during a recent strategic retreat. They highlighted preparations and challenges like vote-buying and voter apathy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the public of credible elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council polls scheduled for February and the Osun State governorship election in August. This commitment came from Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) Dr. Mutiu Agboke for Osun and Mr. Aminu Idris for the FCT during the commission's 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat for its new National Chairman, Commissioners, and RECs.
Agboke, speaking on the sidelines of the event, stressed INEC's determination to make votes count. "The chairman was clear about the rule of law and people’s votes. In our state, there is not going to be any exception. We are going to do our best. We are going to ensure that people follow the process and their votes count," he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He noted lessons learned from the recent Anambra governorship election and anticipated insights from the FCT and Ekiti polls. In Osun, quarterly stakeholder engagements have fostered peace, as seen in the smooth party primaries with no reported issues.
However, Agboke identified vote-buying and violence as major challenges. "INEC has no money to distribute on election day. INEC does not have weapons to give to anybody on election day," he said, urging stakeholders to combat these issues and address voter apathy through vigorous publicity. He called for a shift in the narrative that nothing good comes from INEC.
Idris confirmed full preparations for the February 21 FCT election, with the timetable nearly complete. Key upcoming steps include releasing voter registers to parties and PVC collection starting January 15 for new and uncollected cards. He expressed optimism for higher voter turnout and a peaceful process, viewing the retreat as a reinforcement of INEC's goals for credible elections.
