The (INEC) has urged voters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to make use of its Polling Unit Verification Platform to confirm their voting locations ahead of elections.
The Commission gave the advice in a press statement issued on February 24, 2026, following the conduct of the February 21 Area Council elections, where some voters experienced difficulty locating their polling units.
Verification Platform Key to Avoid Confusion
INEC said the confusion recorded during the FCT polls could have been avoided if more voters had used its online Polling Unit Locator, which allows voters to verify their polling details before election day.
According to the Commission, the platform enables voters to confirm their polling unit by selecting their State, Local Government Area, Ward, and Polling Unit.
The electoral body stressed that voters should take responsibility for verifying their details early and, where possible, physically visit their polling locations before election day.
No New Polling Unit Changes in 2026
INEC clarified that no new polling unit changes or voter migration took place in 2026, contrary to claims in some quarters.
The Commission explained that the polling unit restructuring and voter redistribution referenced by some voters were carried out in February 2022, not recently.
Under its nationwide reform programme, INEC created over 56,000 additional polling units and redistributed millions of voters to reduce congestion and improve voting efficiency.
In the FCT alone, about 580,000 voters were redistributed across more than 1,100 polling units as part of that exercise.
Understanding Split Polling Units
The Commission further explained that what many voters referred to as “new polling units” are actually split polling units introduced in 2022.
These are additional voting points created within the same polling centre to reduce overcrowding, especially in locations with more than 1,250 registered voters.
INEC stated that the split units are located only a few metres from the original polling unit and remain within the same premises.
SMS and Email Alerts Sent to Voters
INEC disclosed that it had earlier identified possible voter confusion during a mock exercise conducted before the election.
To address this, the Commission said it sent SMS and email notifications to affected voters between February 18 and February 21, 2026, providing them with the exact locations of their polling units.
These notifications, the Commission said, were intended as reminders and not an indication of any new changes.
INEC Reaffirms Commitment to Seamless Elections
The Commission reiterated its commitment to improving electoral service delivery and ensuring a seamless voting experience for Nigerians.
INEC urged all eligible voters to take advantage of its verification tools and public communication platforms to avoid unnecessary inconvenience during future elections.
