The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on security agencies to intensify planning, deployment, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency coordination ahead of the February 21 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections, as well as by-elections in Rivers and Kano states.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the appeal during the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Friday. He stressed that early planning and intelligence gathering were crucial to ensuring that electoral activities were conducted in a safe, peaceful, and credible environment.
“As campaigns draw to a close on Thursday, February 19, we look up to the security agencies to ensure strict enforcement of the law, prevent the use of thugs, curb vote buying, and guarantee the safety of voters and election personnel on election day,” Amupitan said. “No amount of administrative readiness can substitute for effective security coordination. I urge all agencies to maintain constant communication, rapid response mechanisms, and professionalism at all times, particularly at flash points.”
The INEC chairman commended the professionalism and dedication of security agencies during the recent Anambra off-cycle governorship election, noting that their efforts created a peaceful environment where a winner was declared on the first ballot despite past challenges in the state. He urged them to replicate the same level of professionalism in the forthcoming elections to prevent avoidable disruptions and ensure a smooth exercise.
“Conducting multiple elections simultaneously across different states further reinforces the need for heightened vigilance, adequate manpower deployment, and seamless inter-agency cooperation,” Amupitan added.
Looking ahead, he called for early and sustained security engagement for the upcoming Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, as well as the 2027 general elections. He emphasized that elections could not be credible if citizens felt unsafe to participate.
Amupitan also revealed that INEC would soon embark on a nationwide voter revalidation exercise to further sanitise the national register ahead of future polls. “This exercise, alongside the ongoing continuous voter registration, will require security support to protect facilities, personnel, and citizens, especially in areas prone to disruption,” he said.
He concluded by stressing that elections succeed when institutions work in harmony. “INEC will continue to rely on your professionalism, neutrality, and commitment to duty. The credibility of our elections, and indeed our democracy, depends largely on your ability to secure the electoral process from start to finish. Let us remain vigilant, proactive, and united in purpose as we navigate this demanding electoral year,” Amupitan said.
By David Odama, Abuja
