By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has given candidates and political parties participating in the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election the go ahead to commence electioneering campaign.
The commission gave the approval for the commencement of campaign in a statement on Wednesday by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, VEC, Mr Sam Olumekun in Abuja.
The Prof Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC explained that the approval was in line with the provision of Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and item 8 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities.
The commission made it pointedly clear that all parties and candidates must be given unimpeded access to public facilities for media campaign, outdoor advertising as well as public rallies and meetings.
For the avoidance of doubt, the INEC statement declared that section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the use of incumbency to the advantage or disadvantage of any party or candidate.
The statement by Olumekun reads, “In line with the provision of Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 and item 8 of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, Political Parties participating in the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election are now at liberty to start their electioneering campaigns in public from Wednesday 24th September 2025 and end at midnight on Thursday 19th February 2026.
“As enshrined in Sections 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission wishes to remind Political Parties, candidates and their supporters that it is unlawful to use abusive language, carry out physical attacks on opponents during rallies, processions and meetings or destroy their campaign materials.
“Similarly, all parties and candidates must be given unimpeded access to public facilities for media campaign, outdoor advertising as well as public rallies and meetings.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 95(2) of the Electoral Act 2022 prohibits the use of incumbency to the advantage or disadvantage of any party or candidate”, it said.
The FCT Area Council election will hold on Saturday 21st February 2026.
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