The Independent National Electoral Commission is set to conduct its first elections under the Electoral Act 2026 during Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory Area Council polls and simultaneous bye-elections in Rivers and Kano states.
INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said the FCT exercise will involve over 1.6 million registered voters across 2,822 polling units.
The elections will test key provisions of the new law, including statutory backing for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV portal.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike declared a work-free day and ordered movement restrictions to ensure smooth voting, describing the polls as a rehearsal for the 2027 general elections.
Observers say the exercise will gauge the commission’s readiness to implement new legal requirements while maintaining credibility and public confidence.
