The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed plans to carry out a mock accreditation and results upload exercise in preparation for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026.
In a statement issued by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the FCT, INEC announced that the mock exercise will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, across 289 selected polling units within the territory, between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The commission explained that the exercise is designed to test the accreditation process and the electronic transmission of results, with the goal of ensuring a smooth and credible Area Council election.
INEC encouraged eligible voters in the selected polling units to participate by coming along with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), stressing that their involvement would contribute to refining the commission’s operational readiness ahead of the actual polls.
According to INEC, the full list of polling units chosen for the mock exercise has been published on its official website for public access.
The electoral body also reassured residents of the FCT of its preparedness to deliver a transparent, credible, and successful Area Council election on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
Meanwhile, the INEC Chairman is currently presiding over a high-level security meeting with members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on election security.
The engagement marks the final stage of a series of consultations the commission has held with key stakeholders since the start of the week.
INEC said the meeting is aimed at briefing security agencies on upcoming elections, including the FCT Area Council polls and the Ekiti State governorship election slated for June.
The commission noted that the discussions are also focused on strengthening security arrangements to safeguard voters, election officials, and electoral materials during the polls.
Representatives of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, are in attendance at the meeting.
The INEC Chairman further called on security agencies to intensify efforts to monitor and prevent vote buying and selling while ensuring strict enforcement of electoral laws throughout the election period.
What you should know
INEC’s mock accreditation and results upload exercise is a preparatory step aimed at testing election technology and procedures ahead of the 2026 FCT Area Council elections.
By involving voters directly, the commission hopes to identify and address potential technical or operational challenges before election day.
Alongside this, INEC’s engagement with security agencies underscores the importance of coordinated security planning, voter protection and the enforcement of electoral laws, particularly against vote trading, to ensure credible and peaceful elections.
