Tinubu urges orderly conduct ahead of FCT, Rivers, Kano elections

President Bola Tinubu has called on voters, security agencies and electoral officials to maintain order and uphold democratic values as elections hold on Saturday in the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers and Kano states.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President encouraged eligible voters to participate without fear, stressing that peaceful participation is essential to credible elections.

Tinubu appealed to political parties, candidates and supporters to avoid violence, inflammatory rhetoric and any actions capable of undermining the electoral process. He warned against intimidation or conduct that could disenfranchise voters, noting that security personnel have been deployed to safeguard lives, property and the integrity of the ballot.

The President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting institutions responsible for delivering free and fair elections, expressing confidence that the polls would reflect the will of the people and strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

The elections, scheduled for February 21, come days after the signing of the new Electoral Act 2026, which introduces reforms including legal backing for the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and provisions for electronic transmission of results, while retaining manual collation as a fallback where network challenges occur.

The Independent National Electoral Commission is set to conduct area council elections across the Abuja, involving more than 1.6 million registered voters across thousands of polling units, alongside bye-elections in Rivers State and Kano State to fill vacant legislative seats.

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan said preparations have been largely completed, including distribution of materials, training of personnel and configuration of BVAS devices. The commission also accredited dozens of domestic and international observer groups to monitor the exercise.

To support a peaceful process, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, announced movement restrictions within the territory from Friday night until Saturday evening.

Authorities say the measures are aimed at ensuring a calm environment for voters as the country tests new electoral reforms in key local and legislative contests.