The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for stronger collaboration among election stakeholders to ensure informed and non-violent voter participation ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Election scheduled for Feb. 21, 2026.
FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mallam Aminu Idris, made the appeal on Wednesday in Abuja during an implementation meeting on voter enlightenment organised by the commission. Idris, represented by the FCT Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, said stakeholders must act as partners and not rivals in promoting voter education, sensitisation and inclusivity.
He urged stakeholders to pool resources to boost peaceful participation across the 2,822 polling units, 62 registration areas and six area councils in the FCT. According to him, the meeting marked the official commencement of INEC’s voter education and inclusivity programmes for the election.
“This will provide the important bridgehead to anchor a free, credible, inclusive and informative election through constructive voter engagement,” he said.
Idris urged participants—including electoral officers, departmental heads and civil society groups—to leverage their demographic knowledge to tailor education strategies to the needs of different voter groups. He listed key indicators for effective voter enlightenment to include reduction of void votes, increased voter confidence in the process, awareness of provisions for persons with disabilities (PWDs), and knowledge of voter rights and responsibilities.
Speaking at the event, the FCT Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Acharu Opaluwa, pledged the agency’s continued support for voter mobilisation. Represented by Mrs. Theresa Eze, she called for NOA field officers in all area councils to be actively involved in grassroots sensitisation.
INEC’s Director of Gender and Inclusivity, Mrs. Lakunuya Bello, presented the programme overview, explaining that the meeting was aimed at aligning all voter education and mobilisation efforts with INEC’s approved activities.
She stressed the importance of clarity and coordination at this stage to ensure effective voter engagement.
“Ultimately, our shared objective is to deepen public awareness, encourage meaningful participation and ensure our interventions reach every community—women, men, young people and all groups whose voices strengthen our democracy,” she said.
