The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure a credible, peaceful, and transparent conduct of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday, CTA’s Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, appealed to voters to resist inducement and vote-buying, urging citizens to turn out en masse and perform their civic responsibility.
“This election belongs to the people. Voters must not sell their votes. Vote-buying undermines democracy and weakens governance. Citizens must exercise their franchise freely and responsibly,” she said.
Nwadishi disclosed that CTA would deploy 50 observers across the six Area Councils to monitor compliance with electoral guidelines. She also highlighted voter demographics, noting that the largest bloc falls between the ages of 36 and 49, with 541,889 registered voters in that bracket. “This age group could significantly influence the outcome. If they do not turn out, it could impact overall participation and credibility,” she warned.
She welcomed INEC’s reported improvements to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), particularly the introduction of an electronic safeguard for the EC8A result sheet. “If the number of accredited voters recorded by BVAS does not match the figure entered on the result sheet, the upload will not proceed. This is a significant development, and we hope INEC fully implements it,” she said.
The CTA boss commended INEC’s level of preparation, noting the movement of sensitive materials from the Central Bank to Area Councils and pledging to monitor activities at Registration Area Centres to ensure proper deployment of materials and personnel.
However, she raised concerns over the newly signed Electoral Act 2026 and its implications for the FCT election. “Following the signing of the Electoral Act 2026, what happens to the elections tomorrow? Will they proceed under the repealed Electoral Act 2022, or will the new provisions apply? Since the new law explicitly states repeal and reenactment, it implies that the 2022 law has been replaced. Therefore, clarity is essential for both the political class and citizens,” she said.
As voters prepare to head to the polls, CTA’s message underscores the importance of vigilance, transparency, and civic responsibility in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy at the grassroots level.
By Michael Oche, Abuja
