- The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has ordered an investigation into operational lapses recorded in Kuje and Kabusa during the recent Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council elections.
Amupitan disclosed this on Wednesday while presiding over a post-election review meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
He stated that any staff found culpable for the shortcomings would face disciplinary measures.
The INEC chairman also warned that transport providers responsible for delays in deploying election materials to Kwali Area Council would be blacklisted, describing the disruption as unacceptable.
The high-level meeting came four days after INEC conducted area council elections in the FCT as well as by-elections in Rivers and Kano states.
Beyond assessing the conduct of the polls, the session provided a platform for RECs from all 36 states and the FCT to brief the commission’s leadership on operational challenges and preparations ahead of the 2027 general election.
Also present was a delegation from the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions, led by Mamman Eri, who said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with INEC to improve the conduct of local government elections nationwide.
INEC organised chairmanship and councillorship elections across the six area councils of the FCT.
In Kuje Area Council, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Danjuma Shekwolo, emerged victorious with 17,269 votes.
At the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), APC’s Christopher Maikalangu secured re-election after polling 40,295 votes out of 62,861 valid ballots cast.
The APC also clinched Kwali Area Council, where its candidate, Daniel Nuhu, defeated the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) contender, Haruna Pai, with 17,032 votes against 8,575.
However, in Gwagwalada Area Council, the PDP recorded a win as its candidate, Mohammed Kasim, garnered 22,165 votes to beat the APC’s Yahaya Shehu, who scored 17,788.
By-elections were equally conducted in Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies in Rivers State, as well as in Kano Municipal and Ungogo constituencies in Kano State.
Amupitan reiterated the commission’s commitment to accountability and operational efficiency, stressing that lessons from the FCT elections would inform future improvements.
He assured stakeholders that lapses would not be overlooked, maintaining that INEC remains determined to uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process as preparations gradually intensify for 2027.
