INEC has clarified that the results for the upcoming FCT Area Council elections will not be transmitted in real-time, countering previous claims by some media outlets.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a clarification regarding the results transmission for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections scheduled for February 21, 2026. In a statement released on Wednesday, INEC's Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, emphasized that reports suggesting that results would be sent in real time are inaccurate. This statement follows misquotations of the commission’s chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during his recent visit to polling preparation centers in Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari.
Oketola highlighted that at no point did the chairman refer to 'real-time' transmission of results, defending that such claims misrepresented his technical explanations regarding the commission’s operational processes. He outlined that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is equipped for electronic uploading and transmission of results, this process is conducted post-voting, counting, and results signing by party agents at polling units rather than while votes are being cast.
The clarification serves to inform the electorate and stakeholders about the procedural timeline for results transmission, aiming to mitigate any misinformation that could influence public perception and electoral integrity. By ensuring that election processes are transparently communicated, INEC hopes to bolster trust in the electoral system, especially considering the critical nature of upcoming elections in the FCT, which are a vital element of Nigeria’s democratic framework.
