KEY POINTS
- INEC has inaugurated a multi-agency committee to ensure election materials reach polling units on time.
- The commission and NOA are launching nationwide campaigns against voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence.
- INEC warns against election-related violence and AI-generated deepfakes ahead of the 2027 polls.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has begun early preparations for the 2027 general elections with the inauguration of a multi-agency committee tasked with improving the distribution of election materials across Nigeria.
The commission said the initiative was designed to prevent logistical failures and ensure eligible voters are not denied the opportunity to vote because of delays in the arrival of election materials.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the development on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Electoral Logistics Committee and the launch of a nationwide grassroots voter mobilisation campaign by the National Orientation Agency (NOA).
Amupitan said the commission was starting preparations early because of the logistical challenges associated with conducting elections across Nigeria’s diverse geographical terrain.
He explained that the movement of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials required careful coordination, adequate security and timely transportation by road, air and water.
According to him, the credibility of an election depends partly on whether polling units are properly equipped and ready to receive voters at the scheduled time.
He stressed that no Nigerian should lose the opportunity to vote because election materials arrived late.
The committee is chaired by INEC National Commissioner Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (retd.) and includes representatives of security agencies, transport unions and relevant government institutions.
Committee to Review Logistics and Security Challenges
The committee will assess INEC’s logistical requirements and develop a comprehensive framework for storing, distributing, deploying and retrieving election materials before and after the polls.
Its responsibilities include inspecting warehouses, vehicles, airports and seaports to determine whether existing facilities can support the demands of the elections.
It will also identify operational weaknesses, recommend corrective measures and monitor compliance with approved transportation and deployment schedules.
The committee is expected to develop strategies for addressing transportation bottlenecks, shortages of equipment and security threats that could disrupt the electoral process.
Other responsibilities include coordinating the movement of election materials through road, air and maritime routes, working with relevant government agencies and transport unions, and submitting periodic reports to INEC.
Amupitan said Nigeria’s varied terrain, unpredictable weather and security challenges required a flexible logistics system capable of responding to different conditions across the country.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Malafa said its members would review previous elections to identify weaknesses and develop measures to improve the timely deployment of election personnel and materials.
She said particular attention would be given to air transportation, cargo handling, land and maritime movement, storage facilities and security arrangements.
The committee will also identify difficult-to-access communities, security-threatened areas and locations prone to crises to enable INEC to develop tailored transportation and security plans.
