President Bola Tinubu on Friday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to leverage the upcoming area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory and the scheduled bye-elections in parts of Rivers and Kano states as an opportunity to reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
The President advised that the polls in the six area councils of the FCT, alongside the bye-elections in Ahoada East II and Khana II State constituencies in Rivers State, as well as Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State, should be conducted in a manner that strengthens voters’ trust in the democratic process.
INEC is set to oversee elections across the six area councils in the FCT and conduct bye-elections in the affected constituencies in Rivers and Kano states. The polls are scheduled to take place on Saturday.
In his message, President Tinubu encouraged eligible voters to participate freely and confidently in the elections, stressing that democracy flourishes most effectively in an environment marked by peace, tolerance, and respect for differing views.
He appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to avoid acts of violence, provocative rhetoric, or any conduct that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process. The President warned against actions capable of undermining credibility or discouraging citizens from exercising their civic rights.
Tinubu also cautioned security agencies against excessive force, intimidation, or behaviour that might disenfranchise voters or diminish public trust. He emphasised that security personnel are deployed to safeguard lives and property while protecting the sanctity of the ballot.
The President further urged INEC to implement all necessary steps to enhance voters’ confidence, including ensuring prompt accreditation, seamless voting procedures, accurate collation of results, and timely transmission of outcomes in accordance with the 2026 Electoral Act.
“Fellow Nigerians, I assure you that the Federal Government under my administration will continue to support institutions responsible for delivering free, fair, and credible elections.
“To all residents of the FCT, Kano and Rivers, I commend your civic consciousness. I am confident that these elections will reflect the will of the people and further strengthen our democratic journey as a nation,” the President added.
What you should know
President Bola Tinubu has urged INEC to use the FCT area council elections and the Rivers and Kano bye-elections to deepen public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
He called on voters to turn out peacefully and encouraged political actors to avoid violence or inflammatory conduct.
The President emphasised the importance of security agencies acting professionally and tasked INEC with ensuring smooth accreditation, accurate collation, and prompt transmission of results in line with the 2026 Electoral Act.
