The Chairman of the (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, describing the exercise as peaceful, efficient, and well-organised.
Amupitan made the remarks while speaking to members of the INEC press corps after monitoring voting activities at several polling units across .
According to him, the election process has been smooth and orderly, with voters and officials maintaining discipline across the polling units visited.
“You can see for yourself that the election is orderly. The election is also very efficient. The election is peaceful, and those are the indices of a good election,” he said.
BVAS Performance Impresses INEC
The INEC Chairman particularly praised the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), noting that it has functioned effectively and efficiently throughout the exercise.
“As far as the efficiency of the BVAS is concerned, I am very satisfied, because the BVAS has worked effectively. From what I gathered from presiding officers, it takes less than five seconds to accredit a voter,” Amupitan stated.
He added that the speed and reliability of the system have contributed significantly to the orderly conduct of the polls.
Strong Voter Turnout Recorded
Amupitan also observed a high level of voter participation, describing it as a sign of growing public awareness and engagement in the democratic process.
“There is a large turnout, which means more people are becoming aware of the need to come out and cast their votes,” he said.
He further commended the conduct of voters and the presence of security personnel, revealing that about 30 security officers were deployed at some of the polling locations he visited to maintain law and order.
Assurance Ahead of 2027 General Elections
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Amupitan assured Nigerians that INEC is committed to delivering credible and transparent polls, stressing that the BVAS technology will continue to guarantee the integrity of the electoral process.
“The BVAS works very well. It will guarantee the integrity of the whole system. If you are not accredited, you cannot vote. Once you are accredited, you can cast your vote, and everything is working effectively,” he assured.
Situation in Abaji Brought Under Control
While most parts of the FCT recorded peaceful voting, the INEC Chairman disclosed that there was an isolated incident in Abaji Area Council.
According to him, security operatives were immediately deployed to the area, bringing the situation under control and allowing voting to resume without further disruption.
“We are getting very good reports from all polling units. The atmosphere is calm. The only area we had a problem was in Abaji, but security was deployed promptly and the incident was tamed,” he said.
Amupitan expressed optimism that by the close of polls, the FCT Area Council elections would be adjudged a success.
