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INEC to deploy over 3,000 BVAS for FCT polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission is set to deploy more than 3,000 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System devices for the Federal Capital Territory Area Council election scheduled for February 21, 2026.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that the BVAS devices will be deployed to the 2,822 polling units across the FCT.
A top official involved in the electoral process disclosed that “about 3,345 BVAS devices would be deployed for the exercise to ensure smooth accreditation of voters.”
Another official with years of experience in FCT elections also confirmed the development, noting that while some of the BVAS devices would be used directly for the polls, the rest would serve as backups.
“Yes, I learnt that nearly 3,345 BVAS devices would be deployed for the FCT polls, with some designated for the election itself and the rest kept as backup,” he said.
INEC is also expected to conduct a mock voter accreditation exercise in February to test the BVAS devices ahead of the polls and ensure the smooth electronic upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing portal.
The exercise aims to identify and address potential challenges ahead of the main election day.
The area council election will be held across the six councils’ area of Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali which function as the equivalent of local government areas in other states.
A total of 68 elective positions will be contested in the poll, including six chairmanship seats, one in each area council, and 62 councillorship seats across the wards.
INEC records show that 17 political parties have fielded 637 candidates for the elections.
Of this number, 65 candidates, comprising 60 males and five females, are contesting the six chairmanship positions.
Another 65 candidates, including 52 males and 13 females, are vying for the vice-chairmanship slots.
In addition, 507 candidates made up of 460 males and 47 females are contesting the 62 councillorship seats. None of the candidates is listed as a person with disability.
INEC confirmed that 1,680,315 registered voters have been cleared to participate in the elections.
The revised voters’ register was produced after the suspension of the CVR exercise in the FCT in October 2025 to allow for biometric de-duplication, public display for claims and objections, and the compilation of a supplementary voters’ list.
The commission recently commenced the distribution and collection of Permanent Voter Cards in preparation for the polls.
The exercise covers newly registered voters as well as those who applied for transfer of registration or requested updates during the CVR.
Consequently, only voters among the 1,680,315 who possess PVCs will be eligible to vote in the elections.
Political campaigns, which commenced on September 24, 2025, are expected to end at midnight on February 19, 2026.
The commission is also undertaking other preparatory activities, including campaign monitoring, receipt of non-sensitive materials, voter education and sensitisation, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Earlier this month, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the FCT, Aminu Idris, assured residents that every vote would count in the Area Council elections.
He said the commission was fully prepared to conduct free, fair and credible polls on February 21.
On expectations for the elections, Idris expressed optimism about voter turnout, saying, “Our expectation is that people will come out, the voters will turn out higher than they did in the last FCT election, and that the election will be conducted peacefully.”
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says it will sustain salary payments for up to 12 months to families of personnel who die in the line of duty.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, approved the welfare initiative as part of measures to strengthen support for families of fallen personnel.
A credible NAF source who pleaded anonymity disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the policy, which provided a special extension of salary payments to the spouses or next of kin of NAF personnel killed in action, would help cushion the impact of their loss.
He explained that, in line with existing public service rules, salary payments normally cease upon the death of a personnel member.
According to him, the new initiative will see salaries of personnel killed in the line of duty continue for up to 12 months from the date of death, or until all death benefits are fully processed and paid, whichever comes first.
The official said the initiative was designed to prevent financial hardship for bereaved families during the period of administrative processing of death benefits.
He added that the CAS had also approved additional welfare packages for officers, airmen and airwomen of the service.
“These measures are aimed at cushioning the prevailing economic pressures and reinforcing the NAF’s commitment to the wellbeing of its personnel.
“These initiatives are also part of a broader welfare reform agenda anchored on the understanding that the wellbeing of personnel and their families is a strategic enabler of combat effectiveness.
“Enhanced welfare drives effective warfare, ensuring that no airman is left unequipped, untrained or unmotivated,” he said.
The source further said that the initiatives reaffirmed the NAF’s resolve to honour the sacrifices of fallen heroes, support the families they left behind and sustain a motivated and mission-ready force.
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to distribute rice across all states of the federation in support of citizens observing the ongoing Ramadan and Lenten seasons.
The initiative is intended to strengthen national unity and demonstrate compassion during a period that holds deep spiritual significance for both Muslims and Christians.
A statement issued by the Director-General, Renewed Hope Ambassadors and governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma explained that “under the directive, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors will coordinate the distribution through their nationwide grassroots network to ensure that families across Nigeria benefit from the intervention during this holy season when both Muslims and Christians are fasting.”
According to the statement: “It is worth noting that a similar intervention was carried out during the last Christmas season, when rice was also distributed to support Nigerians celebrating the festive period.
“This continued effort reflects the administration’s consistent commitment to standing with citizens during important religious and cultural seasons.
“Both Christian and Muslim communities will receive rice as part of the nationwide distribution effort, reflecting the President’s commitment to inclusivity, solidarity, and shared national values.”
Commenting on the initiative, Governor Uzodimma said the programme underscored the President’s belief in supporting citizens during this period of fasting while strengthening interfaith harmony.
He said: “This initiative reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to unity and compassion. Ramadan and Lent are seasons that remind us of sacrifice, charity, and care for one another. Through this distribution, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors will ensure that families across Nigeria feel the spirit of togetherness during this sacred period.”
The statement concluded by saying that the distribution will be carried out across nationwide through the state, local government, and ward structures of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors to ensure broad reach and transparency.
The Police Command in Osun says it has arrested two officers of the Nigeria Customs Service(NCS) in connection with a shooting incident that left a driver dead in Osogbo.
This was contained in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, on Sunday.
Ojelabi explained that the two officers of the NCS were arrested in connection with a shooting incident that occurred at Dada Estate Area, Osogbo, on Sunday.
“The suspects were reportedly chasing suspected tokunbo (foreign-used) vehicles when the incident occurred.
“Meanwhile, the driver of the said ash-coloured Toyota Corolla, one of the vehicles being chased by the Customs officers, was shot and confirmed dead by a medical doctor at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital,” he said.
The command’s spokesperson said that the corpse of the yet-to-be-identified victim had been deposited in a morgue.
Ojelabi said several items were recovered from the scene, including a Beretta pistol with breech number 125024, 11 rounds of 9mm live ammunition and one expanded 9mm shell.
Other items recovered were a white Toyota Corolla with Lagos registration number AAA 400 GQ, and an ash Toyota Corolla with registration number GFQ 0982.
He said that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had ordered a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He assured members of the public that anyone found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.
He urged residents to remain calm and continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that can aid the investigation.
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