Human rights activist and lawyer Professor Chidi Odinkalu has assessed the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “failed” in its conduct.
He also questioned the capacity of INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan to organise credible elections in 2027 based on observed administrative shortcomings.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections were held on February 21, 2026, with INEC overseeing polls for six chairmanship and councillorship seats across the territory.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan assumed office late in the previous year and was responsible for election preparation and logistics in Abuja and surrounding area councils.
Odinkalu spoke on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, where he reviewed the conduct of the recently concluded polls and offered his evaluation of INEC’s performance.
Odinkalu said INEC “failed” in the conduct of the FCT Area Council elections under the leadership of Amupitan, describing the performance as an administrative failure rather than a legal issue.
He said the shortcomings observed during the polls were due to what he described as a “failure of will” and weakness in electoral administration.
According to Odinkalu, this perceived failure in the FCT polls should raise questions about INEC’s readiness to organise credible national elections in 2027 under the same leadership.
He told viewers that, based on the evidence of recent lapses, “nobody can trust Joash Amupitan to organise credible elections in 2027.”
He highlighted what he described as poor coordination of election logistics in the capital territory and criticised the organisation of split polling units and voter communication on election day, suggesting these issues hindered effective voter participation.
Odinkalu also noted Amupitan’s prior experience in overseeing the Anambra State governorship election but maintained that the conduct of the FCT polls indicated the need for stronger electoral administration.
Odinkalu’s remarks contribute to ongoing public evaluation of Nigeria’s electoral processes and institutional preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His comments reflect wider discussions on election management, administrative logistics and voter engagement following the FCT Area Council polls.
The assessment may influence further engagement by civil society groups, political parties and stakeholders interested in electoral reforms and review of administrative practices within INEC.
