The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Peace Committee (NPC) have solidified a strategic partnership aimed at bolstering security and ensuring peaceful conduct for Nigeria’s forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election, with an eye toward the 2027 General Election.
The commitment was reaffirmed on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, during a meeting at INEC headquarters in Abuja. Members of the NPC, led by its secretariat, visited INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, alongside National Commissioners and senior management.
Prof. Amupitan described the engagement as timely, noting that INEC had just concluded extensive consultations with security agencies, political parties, civil society, and the media as part of final preparations for the FCT poll. He stressed that 2026 is a critical preparatory year for the 2027 General Election, making proactive collaboration essential to manage emerging security risks.
“We regard 2026 as our preparatory year for the 2027 General Election. The responsibility we share in maintaining peace and security during this period is paramount,” the Chairman stated. “With proactive and strategic partnership, we can create an environment conducive to safe and credible elections.”
Prof. Amupitan commended the NPC’s Election Security Information (ESI) Hub, which complements institutional conflict prevention efforts. He highlighted the Committee’s evidence-based analysis identifying potential flashpoints in AMAC, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Bwari Area Councils, assuring that these insights would inform ongoing security coordination.
The Chairman acknowledged concerns regarding political threats, intra-party tensions, vote trading, and broader community security challenges. He confirmed that INEC would share relevant intelligence with security agencies like the Nigeria Police Force, EFCC, and ICPC to enable preventive action.
While noting that not all security details can be public, Prof. Amupitan expressed readiness to deepen confidential information-sharing with the NPC, as both institutions share the goal of peaceful, credible polls. He also recalled the NPC’s role in facilitating peace accords for past elections, calling it a vital social contract that encourages political actors to reject violence and accept results.
Representing NPC Chairman Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.) and Convener Bishop Hassan Kukah, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo of the Kukah Centre assured INEC of the Committee’s support not only for the FCT election but also for upcoming governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun States, and the 2027 General Election.
He explained that the NPC’s ESI Hub, operational since June 2024, has built a national network to collect and analyse data on insecurity and electoral violence. The Hub tracks incidents under two categories: election-related violence and an Electoral Offences Tracking System aligned with the Electoral Act and peace accord principles.
In a detailed presentation, Ms. Asabe, Project Manager at the Kukah Centre, described the FCT election as a “mirror” for assessing 2027 preparedness. She provided a council-by-council risk assessment: AMAC shows high incident reports and vote-trading risks; Gwagwalada faces indigene-settler tensions; Bwari has candidate legitimacy disputes and spillover violence; Kuje contends with farmer-herder clashes, kidnappings, and poor telecom coverage in remote areas.
Ms. Asabe expressed optimism that coordinated stakeholder action could ensure a peaceful and credible FCT poll, seeking continued collaboration with INEC to share monitoring insights.
The meeting underscores a data-driven, collaborative approach to election security, positioning the FCT Area Council election as a pivotal benchmark for Nigeria’s electoral integrity in the 2026–2027 cycle.
