FCT Polls: INEC clarifies polling unit splitting not new, dates back to 2022

*Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission clarifies there is no new voter migration carried out during the recent FCT Area Council polls, stating INEC created the split polling units referenced in certain quarters since February 2022

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has provided additional clarification regarding the issue of split polling units ahead of the FCT Area Council elections held last weekend, in Abuja, FCT.

The Commission the latest clarification followed its earlier statement issued Sunday, 22nd February 22 on the conduct of the last FCT Area Council polls.

Mr. Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary (CPS)/Media Adviser to, INEC Chairman, in a statement Tuesday, February 24, 2026, said while the Commission conducted the election successfully, it observed that some voters experienced difficulties locating their designated polling units on Election Day.

The statement noted INEC, however, clarified that contrary to claims in some quarters that voters were migrated to new or different polling units shortly before the elections, “the Commission states categorically that no voter was migrated in 2026.”

Oketola explained that under its Expansion of Voters’ Access to Polling Units initiative, the Commission, in 2022, created over 56,000 additional polling units nationwide, increasing the total number of polling units from 119,972 to over 176,000.

According tomuim, in order to populate the newly-created polling units, many of which had zero registered voters at the time, 6.7 million voters were migrated from about 12,000 congested polling units to approximately 17,000 less-congested polling units across Nigeria.

In the FCT specifically, 411 polling units were decongested, with about 580,000 voters redistributed to 1,156 polling units, stated the CPS/Media Adviser to INRC Chief.

Oketola restated: “The Commission notes that no new voter migration was carried out in 2026.

“The split polling units referenced in recent discussions were created in February 2022, and not in 2026.

He further stated: “For clarity, split polling units are additional voting points and BVAS devices deployed to ease voter accreditation and fast-track voting in large polling units with more than 1,250 registered voters.”

The Commission also emphasised the overarching objective of the initiative is to enhance orderliness, reduce overcrowding and improve the overall voting experience.

“These split units are located only a few metres away from the original polling units, and remain within the same premises,” said the media aide to the Chairman.

The Commission said to further assist voters, it has provided an online Polling Unit Locator available at https://cvr.inecnigeria.org/pu.

ConsumerConnect reports the Polling Unit Locator enables voters to confirm their polling unit by selecting their State, Local Government Area, Registration Area (Ward) and Polling Unit.

Oketola stated: “INEC further clarifies that the splitting of polling units did not alter voters’ registration status, but merely redistributed voters within the same location for administrative efficiency.”

The statement as well noted the Commission, however, had observed during the mock election in the FCT that several voters, who were migrated in 2022, were still experiencing difficulties locating their polling units, necessitating targeted intervention during the electoral process.

The Commission disclosed that it sent text messages (SMS) and e-mails to affected voters Wednesday 18th, Thursday 19th, Friday 20th and Saturday 21st February 2026, indicating the locations of their polling units.

The statement clarified that such notifications to voters were intended solely “as reminders to assist voters in identifying their designated voting points.”

INEC stated: “The Commission encourages voters to verify their polling details ahead of elections and, where possible, physically visit their polling locations prior to Election Day.

“INEC reiterates its commitment to continuous improvement in electoral service delivery and urges voters to take advantage of all verification platforms provided in order to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.”

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