The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted reports suggesting that results of the February 21, 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections will be transmitted in real time, describing such claims as a misrepresentation of its established procedures.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the commission clarified that its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, was misquoted during his recent visit to polling preparation centres in Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari Area Councils.
According to INEC, the chairman did not use the term “real-time” while explaining the commission’s result transmission process.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, explained that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is equipped to upload and transmit election results electronically, such transmission occurs only after voting has concluded, results have been counted, and official forms have been signed by party agents at the polling units.
He stressed that the electronic upload of scanned polling unit results—Form EC8A—to the INEC Result Viewing Portal follows due process and is not carried out simultaneously with voting.
“Since 2022, INEC has been transmitting results electronically using BVAS. The system accredits voters and is capable of uploading and transmitting results. However, the upload takes place after the completion of voting, counting, and documentation at the polling unit,” the statement noted.
The commission maintained that describing the process as “real-time” could mislead the public into believing that votes are streamed live as they are cast, which is not provided for under Nigeria’s electoral laws and guidelines.
INEC cautioned media organisations to exercise precision when reporting technical aspects of election procedures, warning that inaccurate descriptions could fuel confusion and unnecessary public anxiety.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and technology-driven elections, the commission assured residents of the FCT that appropriate measures remain in place to guarantee credible polls, while urging journalists to support the process with accurate and responsible coverage.
