INEC to Test 2026 Electoral Act in FCT Council Polls, Rivers, Kano Bye-Elections -

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to pilot key provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act during upcoming elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council polls and select bye-elections in Rivers and Kano states.

According to INEC officials, the pilot exercise is aimed at testing new legal and technological reforms introduced by the amended Electoral Act ahead of nationwide implementation in the 2027 general elections.

The commission said the trial run would help identify operational gaps, logistical challenges, and areas needing fine-tuning before the full rollout.

The FCT area council elections will serve as a major testing ground, as they involve multiple local government areas within the nation’s capital.

INEC is also set to deploy the new framework in pending legislative bye-elections in Rivers State and Kano State, offering an opportunity to observe how the reforms perform across different political and geographic environments.

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Among the innovations to be tested are enhanced accreditation procedures, improved transmission of results from polling units to central collation systems, and stricter timelines for the resolution of electoral disputes.

INEC said it is working closely with security agencies, civil society groups, and political parties to ensure the pilot does not disrupt the credibility of the polls.

The commission added that lessons learned from the FCT council polls and the Rivers and Kano bye-elections would shape final guidelines and training for electoral officers ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC urged political actors and voters to cooperate with officials during the pilot phase, stressing that the exercise is designed to strengthen transparency, voter confidence, and the overall integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process.