By Azeez Sulaiman
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has issued a strict 12-hour restriction on all non-essential movement across Abuja as the nation’s capital prepares for the Area Council elections on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
The lockdown, which runs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., is the centerpiece of a comprehensive security operation designed to protect over 1.6 million registered voters across the six area councils and 68 constituencies.
In a briefing ahead of the polls, the Command detailed an expansive Joint Task Force deployment.
This strategy integrates the human and operational resources of the Nigeria Police Force with the Nigerian Army, Navy, Air Force, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
This multi-agency firewall aims to provide impenetrable security at all polling units, collation centers, and critical infrastructure points, ensuring that the only grassroots-level elections conducted directly by INEC are free from intimidation and violence.
The Commissioner of Police for the FCT Command, CP Miller G. Dantawaye also issued a stern directive to all personnel deployed for election duties emphasizing that the integrity of the force is on the line.
The CP mandated that officers must maintain absolute neutrality and uphold the highest standards of professionalism.
While the movement restriction will be absolute for the general public, exemptions have been granted to essential service providers, accredited election observers, and duly identified INEC officials.
Residents are urged to view these measures not as an inconvenience, but as a necessary safeguard for the sanctity of their votes.
The Command also encouraged all eligible voters to turn out in large numbers, assuring them that every polling unit will be a safe harbor for the exercise of their franchise.