President Bola Tinubu has issued a comprehensive appeal to voters, security agencies, and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold orderly conduct during Saturday’s polls across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano, and Rivers States. The President's call, conveyed in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday, emphasizes the critical role of these stakeholders in ensuring the integrity and peacefulness of the democratic process.

INEC is set to conduct elections in the six area councils of the FCT, which has 1,680,315 registered voters spread over 2,822 polling units. Additionally, bye-elections will take place in the Ahoada East II and Khana II State constituencies of Rivers State, following lawmakers vacating their seats due to resignation and death. In Kano State, voting is scheduled for the Kano Municipal constituency, with 330,228 registered voters across 630 polling units, and the Ungogo constituency, comprising 205,418 voters in 384 polling units, following the deaths of two State House of Assembly members. These elections are significant for strengthening local governance and representation.

President Tinubu urged all eligible voters to exercise their civic duty by coming out to vote without fear, reiterating that a democratic process flourishes best in an environment characterized by calm, tolerance, and mutual respect. He specifically appealed to political parties, candidates, and their supporters to refrain from violence, inflammatory statements, and any actions that could undermine the credibility of the electoral process. This directive aims to foster a respectful and fair political climate.

Furthermore, the President issued a stern caution against any form of high-handedness, intimidation, or actions that could disenfranchise voters or erode public trust, particularly addressing security personnel. He underscored that security agencies are deployed primarily to safeguard lives, protect property, and ensure the sanctity of the ballot, urging them to act professionally and responsibly in discharging their duties.

In a direct address to INEC, President Tinubu appealed to the Commission to implement all necessary measures to bolster voters’ confidence. This includes ensuring timely accreditation, facilitating smooth voting processes, conducting accurate collation, and guaranteeing prompt transmission of results. He stressed that these actions must be in line with the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act, which notably introduces reforms such as formally embedding the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and permitting electronic transmission of results to INEC’s Result Viewing portal, while retaining manual collation as a backup in areas with limited network connectivity.

Concluding his message, President Tinubu assured Nigerians of the Federal Government's unwavering commitment under his administration to support institutions responsible for delivering free, fair, and credible elections. He commended the civic consciousness of residents in the FCT, Kano, and Rivers, expressing confidence that the outcomes of these elections would genuinely reflect the will of the people and further strengthen Nigeria's democratic journey as a nation.