Lauretta Onochie, a prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has spoken out following reports that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) allegedly fled a polling unit in Abuja with ballot papers during the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
Onochie’s response was made public on Saturday, February 21, 2026, through a post on her verified X account. In her remarks, she raised concerns about the reported development and suggested that it pointed to deeper irregularities in the conduct of the election.
The controversy stems from accounts circulating online which claim that the incident occurred in the Abaji Area Council of the FCT.
A video shared on social media appeared to show a tense atmosphere at a polling unit, with visibly upset voters voicing their frustration. In the footage, several individuals were heard shouting amid allegations that electoral officials had departed the location with ballot materials.
Although the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, the claims quickly gained traction online, prompting reactions from political actors and observers alike.
Reacting to the reports, Onochie appeared to link the alleged removal of ballot papers to what she described as a “manual transfer,” implying that the action was intentional rather than a procedural necessity.
In her post, she questioned the legitimacy of the development and urged that steps be taken to address the situation.
“That is the manual transfer. They bragged about it. They are doing it. Can we do something about it? Absolutely yes!” she wrote, signaling what many interpreted as a call for accountability and closer scrutiny of the electoral process.
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