The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a stern warning against vote buying ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections scheduled for February 17, 2024. The commission stated it will not tolerate the practice and assured that perpetrators will be prosecuted.
The warning was contained in a statement by INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, in Abuja. He emphasized that the election will be conducted peacefully, transparently, and credibly. Over 1.6 million registered voters are set to cast ballots across 2,822 polling units to elect councillors for the 68 vacant seats, with 570 candidates in the race.
Professor Yakubu reiterated that elections are a shared national responsibility and that INEC has no preferred candidate in any contest. To ensure transparency, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed at every polling unit. Results will be uploaded in real-time to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), allowing for immediate public access.
The commission has also accredited 89 domestic and international observer groups, along with 700 journalists, to monitor the process. Crucial to curbing electoral malpractice, security agencies including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will be visibly deployed. Their specific mandate includes preventing vote buying and ensuring the safety of voters, officials, and materials.
This strong stance aligns with INEC’s consistent efforts to sanitize Nigeria’s electoral process, where vote buying has been a persistent challenge in previous cycles. The commission’s deployment of technology like BVAS and IReV is part of a broader strategy to reduce human interference and increase confidence in election outcomes. The active involvement of anti-graft agencies signals a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to enforce electoral laws.
With just days to the vote, INEC’s message is clear: the February 17 election will be a test of its systems and the public’s commitment to credible voting. The commission’s final preparations focus on logistics, security, and voter education, urging residents to reject financial inducements and participate responsibly. Success in the FCT election is viewed as a critical precursor to the 2027 general elections, setting a procedural benchmark for future polls across Nigeria’s states.
