Title: INEC Enlists EFCC, ICPC, Police to Combat Vote Buying Ahead of FCT Polls Date Published: 12 February 2026 Description: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to work closely with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police to curb the growing menace of vote buying and vote trading in elections.INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this while receiving a delegation from the National Peace Committee (NPC), stressing that relevant security and anti-corruption agencies have been placed on alert to play active roles in tackling electoral offences.According to him, the Commission has specifically charged the Nigeria Police, EFCC and ICPC to intensify surveillance and enforcement to deter vote buying and related practices during elections.Prof. Amupitan said INEC would take prompt action on security intelligence and risk assessments submitted by the National Peace Committee ahead of the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.He described the committee’s presentation as timely and invaluable, assuring that the information would be reviewed thoroughly and shared with appropriate security agencies for immediate response.The INEC Chairman noted that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) would receive special attention, alongside Bwari and Kuje Area Councils, based on concerns raised by the committee.He further described the Peace Accord signed by political parties before elections as a binding social contract that commits political actors to peaceful conduct and acceptance of election outcomes.Prof. Amupitan added that activities lined up for 2026 were critical to INEC’s broader preparations for the 2027 General Election, describing the year as a preparatory phase.Earlier, leader of the NPC delegation, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, apologised for the delay in formally engaging the new leadership of INEC and pledged the committee’s continued collaboration and strategic support.He assured the Commission of the committee’s readiness to provide guidance and support for the FCT Area Council elections, governorship polls and other off-cycle elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.Rev. Fr. Barkindo disclosed that the committee’s Election Security and Information Hub, launched last year, has deployed networks and field agents across states to gather data on insecurity, violence and conflict trends, stressing that its interventions are evidence-based.The National Peace Committee identified AMAC, Gwagwalada, Bwari and Kuje Area Councils as potential hotspots requiring heightened vigilance.It noted that AMAC showed high tendencies for vote buying and political threats, while Gwagwalada was flagged for indigene-settler tensions and a history of political thuggery, particularly in the Jiwa community.The committee also raised concerns over farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping and limited security presence in Bwari, while identifying Kwali as vulnerable due to security challenges in neighbouring states.According to the committee, its data collection focuses on election-related violence that could affect the electoral process and an electoral offence tracking mechanism aligned with the provisions of the Peace Accord. Attached Images: 989146f2cf30b59a486c939112e3dcb7620dc546608e9401dc0944b214aba329.jpg Attached Video: None