FCT Decides: INEC chief Prof. Amupitan mandates 8:30 am start, demands “total neutrality”

With the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections just four days away, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has taken to the field to ensure the commission’s “engine room” is primed for a glitch-free Saturday.

Leading a high-powered delegation on a readiness assessment tour across Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari Area Councils, the INEC boss made it clear that while the commission provides the framework, the burden of integrity rests on the shoulders of the local officials.

Prof. Amupitan, accompanied by the FCT Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mallam Aminu K. Idris, and Administrative Secretary Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, scrutinized deployment plans and logistics. In each council, Electoral Officers (EOs) provided detailed briefs on material distribution, security coordination, and the activation of Registration Area Centres (RACs).

Addressing the staff in Kuje and Gwagwalada, Prof. Amupitan reminded the team that INEC’s power is derived from the people’s trust and the Constitution.

“INEC functions as a constitutional institution, not a collection of individuals,” Prof. Amupitan declared. “At the Area Council level, you are the face of the Commission. I urge you to let the Constitution and the Electoral Act be your only compass. Professionalism is not a suggestion; it is our mandate.”

To prevent the perennial issue of late starts, the Chairman issued a strict “Friday Deadline” for the movement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials. He insisted that the logistical chain must be completed before the sun sets on Friday.

The Chairman’s Operational Timeline:

– Friday, Feb 20: All materials must be delivered to Registration Area Centres (RACs).
– Friday Evening: Ad-hoc staff and security personnel must report for briefing at RACs.
– Saturday, Feb 21 (8:30 AM): Accreditation and voting must commence simultaneously across the FCT.

Read also: DSS witness details how the Owo church massacre was planned, funded

“The goal is simple: early movement equals early commencement,” the Chairman told staff. “We want to see accreditation and voting start by 8:30 a.m. sharp. We owe the voters of the FCT a seamless experience that reflects our state of readiness.”

The visit took a sentimental turn in the Bwari Area Council. Beyond the operational briefing provided by the EO, Mrs. Gloria Adebayo-Stephen, the staff presented Prof. Amupitan with a massive card signed by the entire team. It was a rare display of institutional solidarity and a pledge to uphold the commission’s guidelines under pressure.

Acknowledging the gesture, the Chairman noted that the visit confirmed his confidence in the local teams. “I am here to confirm that the arrangements we discuss in boardrooms are actually being implemented on the ground. From what I’ve seen in Bwari and elsewhere, we are ready,” he said.

With the 2026 Area Council polls set to serve as a litmus test for electoral stability, the Commission’s leadership appears determined to leave nothing to chance.

The post FCT Decides: INEC chief Prof. Amupitan mandates 8:30 am start, demands “total neutrality” appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.