The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged security agencies to enhance coordination and uphold professionalism as Nigeria gears up for a packed 2026 election calendar.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, made the appeal on Friday during the first Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting of the year in Abuja. He emphasized that credible elections hinge on voter safety, citing the upcoming FCT Area Council polls on February 21, bye-elections in Rivers and Kano, and off-cycle governorship elections ahead of 2027.
Amupitan praised security agencies for their role in the peaceful conduct of the November 2025 Anambra governorship election and called for law enforcement against thuggery, vote buying, and election disruptions. He highlighted completed preparations, including BVAS configuration, personnel training, and distribution of non-sensitive materials, with sensitive materials to be secured closely. A mock accreditation exercise is scheduled for February 7.
Hassan Abdullahi, Director of Internal Security in the Office of the National Security Adviser, reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force is leading election security efforts and warned that political thugs and vote buyers would be identified and sanctioned. He urged citizens, media, and political actors to support peaceful elections.
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