By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will sanction staff who reported late to polling units during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections held on Saturday, February 21.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, stated this on Wednesday, February 25, at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) and the swearing-in of the new REC representing Abia State, Dr Chukwu-Emeka Joseph.
Prof. Amupitan said that according to data from its Election Operations Dashboard, only 45 per cent of polling units in the FCT opened by 8:30 a.m.
He said the development, which he described as unacceptable and below the commission’s standard, was more pronounced in Kuje Area Council and Kabusa Ward in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.
“Another area that requires frank discussion is logistics and punctuality. According to our Election Operations Dashboard, only 45 percent of polling units in the FCT opened by 8:30 a.m.
“Although we achieved 100 per cent by 10:00 a.m., the initial delay is unacceptable. Let me repeat what I said at my meeting with staff: there will be consequences for any act capable of sabotaging the process, and 45 per cent opening at 8:30 a.m. is not satisfactory. It fell short of our standards, undermined public confidence, and will not be tolerated,” he said.
Amupitan added that INEC was determined to mitigate incidents of voters’ inability to identify their polling units.
The INEC boss maintained that there was no migration of voters to new polling units during the FCT poll held at the weekend and directed RECs to embark on voter education and sensitisation ahead of the forthcoming general election.
He said, “As is the practice of INEC, every polling unit with more than 1,250 registered voters was split into spill-over units or voting points within the same location or premises, resulting in the deployment of additional BVAS machines to reduce congestion.
“These voting points are located only a few metres away from the original polling units within the same premises, created solely to ease accreditation and voting, reduce overcrowding, and improve voter experience,” he said.
With the recent passage of the Electoral Act 2026 into law, Amupitan hinted that the commission would soon make adjustments and issue a revised timetable for the 2027 General Election.
The more to look the less you see.