The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed claims that results from the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections will be transmitted in real time, describing such reports as misleading.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, INEC Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, said some media organisations misquoted the commission’s chairman, Joash Amupitan, following his inspection visit to election preparation centres in Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Bwari Area Councils.
Oketola clarified that the chairman never used the term “real-time” while addressing journalists, noting that the phrase does not accurately reflect the commission’s technical explanation of its election result procedures.
According to the commission, although the BVAS system supports electronic upload and transmission of results, this only takes place after voting has concluded, ballots have been counted, and result sheets have been endorsed by party agents at polling units — not while voting is ongoing.
INEC added that the chairman merely restated the commission’s established electronic transmission protocol, which has been in place since 2022, emphasizing that BVAS is used for voter accreditation as well as result upload and transmission after due process is completed.
