The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the African Action Congress (AAC) has strongly criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its apparent lack of preparation for the upcoming FCT Area Council elections, scheduled for February 26, 2026.

In a joint statement signed by the FCT AAC Chairman, Agena Robert Ande , and Organising Secretary, Sydney Usman Godwin, the party expressed deep disappointment over INEC’s failure to provide clear guidance on the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The AAC FCT warned that thousands of young Nigerians who recently turned 18 could be denied their right to vote unless voter registration resumes promptly and electoral procedures are clarified.

The party also criticised INEC over confusion surrounding the CVR restart. While there were initial reports that registration would resume on May 27, the commission later denied the information, causing public uncertainty. The AAC described the mixed signals as evidence of poor planning, which could undermine the credibility of the 2026 elections in the FCT.

“The African Action Congress (AAC) FCT chapter expresses profound concern and disappointment over the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) egregious lack of preparedness for the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) elections,” the statement read.

“It is unacceptable that tens of thousands of eligible voters, especially newly eligible young Nigerians, face the risk of disenfranchisement due to the commission’s failure to resume CVR and facilitate voter participation,” the party said.

The AAC FCT issued several demands to INEC, including:

The immediate announcement of a clear and fixed date for the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration.

Prompt production and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to all eligible registrants.

Acceleration of the voter transfer and update processes to avoid unnecessary disenfranchisement.

The party called on INEC to act decisively and transparently to safeguard the democratic rights of all eligible voters in the FCT.

“We urge INEC to rise to the occasion and prove its commitment to democratic principles. The AAC FCT chapter will continue to monitor developments closely and will not hesitate to take necessary actions to defend the rights of our members and the wider electorate,” the statement concluded.