The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday began monitoring of the ongoing FCT Area Council elections at Lagos Crescent, Garki, where he urged traders and residents to comply with electoral guidelines to ensure a smooth process.

Addressing stakeholders in the area, the minister stressed the need for orderliness and full adherence to directives issued for the conduct of the polls.

Wike thereafter visited other polling units across Abuja to assess the level of preparedness and compliance.

He called on residents to come out en masse to exercise their franchise, assuring them of adequate security and a transparent electoral process.

*The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has deployed its operatives across all six Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to monitor today’s local government elections and safeguard electoral integrity.

The deployment aims to curb voter inducement, vote-buying, and other forms of electoral malpractice during the polls organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a statement released on Saturday, the EFCC emphasized its commitment to ensuring a transparent and credible process. Executive Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Ola Olukoyede, directed operatives to maintain strict surveillance across all council areas and take decisive action against any attempts to compromise the election through financial inducements or corrupt practices.

“Our officers are fully mobilized and actively patrolling polling units and surrounding areas in the FCT,” the statement noted. “The EFCC remains resolute in protecting the electoral process to promote transparency, accountability, and free expression of the people’s will.

“The six Area Councils — Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali, and Abaji — are holding chairmanship and councillorship elections today, marking a key local governance exercise in the nation’s capital.

The EFCC’s involvement aligns with broader efforts by anti-corruption agencies and security forces to deter vote-selling and ensure that the elections reflect genuine voter preferences rather than financial influence.

As voting continues, the Commission has urged the public to report any suspicious activities involving money-for-votes schemes, promising swift intervention where necessary.

No major incidents involving EFCC operatives have been reported so far, according to initial updates from various sources covering the polls.

The Kano State Police Command has announced movement restrictions in Kano Municipal and Ungogo Local Government Areas ahead of the February 21, 2026, State Assembly by-elections.

The announcement followed a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, chaired by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Kano, Zango Abdu, held on February 19, 2026.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the command stated that ICCES “met today, 19th February 2026 and concluded security arrangements ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Kano Municipal and Ungogo LGAs State Constituencies, slated for February 21, 2026.

”The Co-Chair of ICCES and Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said that the command, “in collaboration with other security agencies, has put all necessary measures in place to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, credible, transparent, and successful by-elections for Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies.”

The statement read, “Movement of motor vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles is strictly restricted from 12:00 am midnight to 6:00 pm on Saturday, 21st February 2026, being the Election Day, proper.

”It added that “exceptions will only be granted to vehicles on essential services, such as ambulances, fire service trucks, and vehicles of electoral officers and accredited election observers.”