ABUJA — The head of Nigeria’s electoral body has issued an urgent call to security agencies to “step up” operations as the country enters a grueling calendar of regional and local elections. Professor Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warned on Friday that 2026 will be a “very busy electoral year,” serving as a critical litmus test for the general elections scheduled for 2027.
Speaking at a security summit in the capital, Abuja, Prof. Amupitan stressed that the credibility of the democratic process hinges entirely on the safety of voters and the protection of polling staff.
The immediate challenge: Abuja and beyond
The Commission’s immediate focus is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, set for 21 February. Over 1.6 million voters are expected to head to the polls across 2,822 polling units in the capital region. While administrative preparations—including the configuration of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines—are reportedly on track, Prof. Amupitan was blunt about the risks:”No level of administrative preparedness can substitute for effective security coordination, particularly in identified flashpoints.”Beyond the capital, the security apparatus will be stretched thin on February 21, as bye-elections are also scheduled in the volatile states of Rivers and Kano.
Testing the “Anambra Model”
The Chairman pointed to last November’s governorship election in Anambra State as a rare success story. Despite the region’s history of election-related violence, the poll was conducted peacefully, allowing a winner to be declared on the first ballot. Prof. Amupitan urged security forces—led by the Nigeria Police Force—to replicate the “Anambra Model” of proactive intelligence and firm responses to threats of thuggery and vote-buying.
A packed calendar
The 2026 roadmap includes several high-stakes contests that often see a surge in political tension:20 June: Ekiti State Governorship Election.8 August: Osun State Governorship Election.Ongoing: A nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise to “sanitize” the national register ahead of 2027.Security responseResponding to the charge, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Inspector-General of Police reaffirmed their commitment to “massive deployment.” Police officials assured the public that resources are already being mobilized to protect INEC facilities and personnel against potential disruption.As the campaign window for the Abuja polls closes on February 19, the international community will be watching closely to see if Nigeria can maintain stability during this intensive “off-cycle” season.
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