President Tinubu has urged voters, security personnel, and INEC officials to conduct themselves properly and peacefully during Saturday’s elections in Rivers, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The elections, slated for February 21, 2026, follow shortly after the President assented to the Electoral Act 2026.
In a statement released on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu urged all eligible voters to cast their ballots with confidence, emphasising that democracy thrives in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance, and respect for one another.
Additionally, he advised candidates, political parties, and supporters to abstain from any actions that could jeopardise the process’s integrity, including violence and aggressive speech.
President Tinubu also cautioned against using excessive force, intimidating voters, or taking any other action that could deny citizens their right to vote or erode public trust, pointing out that security forces are in place to protect people’s lives, property, and the integrity of the ballot.
Tinubu stated, “Fellow Nigerians, I assure you that the Federal Government under my administration will continue to support institutions responsible for delivering free, fair, and credible elections.
“To all residents of the FCT, Kano, and Rivers, I commend your civic consciousness. I am confident that these elections will reflect the will of the people and further strengthen our democratic journey as a nation.”
In compliance with the 2026 Electoral Act, he also instructed INEC to put in place measures that will boost voter confidence, including as timely accreditation, smooth voting, accurate collation, and quick results transmission.
In addition to bye-elections in the states of Rivers and Kano, INEC is scheduled to hold polls in each of the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory, with 1,680,315 registered voters dispersed across 2,822 polling stations.
Additional elections will be held in Rivers to fill the seats of members who resigned or passed away in the Ahoada East II and Khana II constituencies.
Meanwhile, in Kano State, voting will occur in Kano Municipal, which has 330,228 registered voters across 630 polling units, and in Ungogo constituency, comprising 205,418 voters in 384 polling units, following the deaths of two State House of Assembly members.
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