The Nigeria Police Force has assured residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of adequate security measures ahead of the 2026 Area Council elections, as security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) declared their readiness to ensure a peaceful exercise.
The assurance was given at an ICCES security meeting convened in preparation for the polls. Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, and Co-Chairman of ICCES, CP Miller Dantawaye, said the committee would immediately establish a joint situation room to coordinate security operations before, during and after the elections.
He also ordered the immediate deployment of police personnel to secure Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) facilities across the six Area Councils of the FCT, as well as to provide adequate security for the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection exercise at designated locations in the 62 Registration Areas.
The police chief further assured that ICCES would address operational bottlenecks that often delay early deployment of security personnel on Election Day, while ensuring sufficient security presence at identified flashpoints across the FCT to guarantee a smooth and credible poll.
In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC FCT, Malam Aminu Kasimu Idris, commended ICCES for its sustained commitment to securing electoral activities in the territory. He noted that the support of security agencies over the years has ensured the safe implementation of the Commission’s programmes.
With the election just a month away, Idris stressed the need for heightened security measures to boost public confidence and encourage voter participation.
Also speaking, the Administrative Secretary, INEC FCT, Mrs Bimbo Oladunjoye, said the Commission’s election activities are time-bound and are being implemented progressively. She explained that INEC is engaging a broad spectrum of electoral stakeholders to strengthen the electoral ecosystem and ensure the successful execution of its schedule of activities ahead of the Area Council elections.
The meeting ended with a resolution to convene another consultative session before the polls to further fine-tune security arrangements for the conduct of a peaceful election.
