ABUJA, Nigeria — Serious flaws in logistics and the “fragile” nature of results collation during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections have triggered an urgent warning for Nigeria’s electoral umpire. Ahead of key gubernatorial polls and the 2027 general elections, observers are demanding a “projectized” overhaul of logistics, stricter adherence to result transmission timelines, and a transparent audit of electronic systems to prevent widespread disenfranchisement.
The statement, released on Sunday, was signed by Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, and Cynthia Mbamalu, Director of Programs. The duo highlighted that while the elections remained largely peaceful, the ward-level collation stage remains the “weakest link” in the country’s electoral value chain, vulnerable to violence and manipulation.
A ‘Mixed Signal’ for Democracy
The 2026 FCT elections served as a litmus test for the recently signed Electoral Act 2026. While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) achieved a high upload rate on its Result Viewing Portal (IReV)—hitting over 90% by Sunday afternoon—the process was marred by significant hurdles:
Logistical Failures: Late deployment of materials delayed voting in many areas, specifically within the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Low Turnout: Observers noted a worrying trend of voter apathy, urging political parties to prioritize mobilization over the use of “political thugs.”
Collation Chaos: In several wards, such as Zuba and Kuje Central, violence and intimidation forced officials to flee, with some result sheets reportedly carted away by thugs.” The ward-level collation stage remains the most fragile link… violent disruptions, delays, and security lapses exposed weaknesses that threaten the integrity of results management,” the report noted.
Key Findings at a Glance
Yiaga Africa’s observers, deployed across 58 of the 62 ward collation centres, provided a breakdown of the process:
Commencement: Only 66% of centres started collation between 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Transparency: 80% of officers publicly displayed the Form EC60E (Notice of Results).
Security Officials were present in 98% of observed centres, yet violence still occurred.
IReV Uploads: 94% of chairmanship results were uploaded by Sunday afternoon despite temporary portal downtime.
The Road to 2027
With off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun on the horizon, the civil society group insists that INEC must move beyond “business as usual.” The recommendations are blunt: INEC must institute staggered material collection to end delays, and security agencies must prosecute those who sponsored violence during the FCT polls. The observers warned that if the “chain of custody” for votes is not secured now, public trust in the 2027 general elections could be irreparably damaged.
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