INEC, Peace Committee Strengthen Security Ties as 2026 Set for 2027 Election Preparations

Ahead of the February 21 Area Council polls in the Federal Capital Territory, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that 2026 would be a preparatory year for the 2027 general election.

Chairman of the Commission, Prof Joash Amupitan, stated this Wednesday when he received a delegation of the National Peace Committee (NPC) in Abuja.

Both bodies had met to forge a strategic partnership to strengthen security and promote peaceful conducts.

Prof. Amupitan, while welcoming the delegations, said the visit was timely, noting that the Commission had in the past week concluded a series of engagements with key stakeholders, including security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations and the media, as part of final preparations for the FCT election.

He emphasised that, beyond the immediate election, 2026 remained a critical preparatory period for the 2027 general elections, underscoring the importance of proactive collaboration to manage emerging security risks.

“We regard 2026 as our preparatory year for the 2027 general election,” the Chairman stated.

“The responsibility we share in maintaining peace and security during this period is paramount. With proactive and strategic partnership, we can create an environment conducive to safe and credible elections.”

The INEC Chairman commended the National Peace Committee for establishing an Election Security Information (ESI) Hub to complement institutional efforts at conflict prevention and electoral risk mitigation.

He noted that the Committee’s evidence-based security analysis of the FCT, particularly its identification of potential flashpoints in AMAC, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Bwari Area Councils, would be carefully studied and factored into ongoing security coordination.

The INEC boss acknowledged concerns raised over alleged threats among political actors, inter- and intra-party tensions, vote trading risks and the broader security challenges in certain communities.

He assured the delegation that the Commission would share relevant insights with security agencies to enable preventive and responsive measures.

“Just last week, we charged the Nigeria Police Force, the EFCC and the ICPC to be on guard against vote buying and related offences,” he said. “The evidence-based information presented will guide necessary steps to enhance the integrity of the electoral process.”

While stressing that not all security details can be made public, the Chairman expressed readiness to deepen information-sharing mechanisms with the Committee under appropriate confidentiality arrangements, noting that both institutions are pursuing the same objective of peaceful, credible elections.

He also recalled the Committee’s role in facilitating peace accords ahead of previous elections, including the Anambra Governorship Election, describing such engagements as a social contract that reinforces political actors’ commitment to non-violence and acceptance of electoral outcomes.

Earlier, the Executive Director of the Kukah Centre and Head of Secretariat of the National Peace Committee, Rev. Fr. Atta Barkindo, conveyed the goodwill of the Committee’s Chairman, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd.), and its Convener, Bishop Hassan Kukah.

He assured the Commission of the Committee’s readiness to provide strategic guidance and support not only for the FCT election but also for forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, as well as preparations for the 2027 general election.

Rev. Fr. Barkindo disclosed that the Committee’s Election Security Information Hub, launched last year, has established networks across the country to collect and analyse data on insecurity, violence and conflict trends, both election-related and those capable of impacting the electoral process.

According to him, the objective is to ensure that all interventions undertaken by the Committee are guided strictly by data and evidence, rather than sentiment or partisan considerations.

In a detailed presentation, the Project Manager of the Kukah Centre, Ms. Asabe, described the FCT election as a “mirror” through which Nigerians would assess preparations for the 2027 general elections.

She explained that the ESI Hub has, since June last year, tracked incidents under two broad categories: election-related violence and an Electoral Offences Tracking System aligned with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the principles underpinning peace accords.

Highlighting specific areas of concern, she identified AMAC as having a high concentration of reported security incidents and potential vote trading risks. Gwagwalada was flagged for indigene-settler tensions and party disputes, while Bwari faces disputes over candidate legitimacy and security spillovers from neighbouring states.

Kuje, she noted, presents complex challenges, including reported farmer-herder conflicts, kidnapping incidents, limited security presence in certain communities, and telecommunications gaps in remote areas.

She expressed optimism that with coordinated action among stakeholders, the FCT election would be conducted peacefully and credibly, while also seeking continued collaboration with the Commission in sharing relevant monitoring insights.