By Ajibola Olaide, JKNewsMedia
PREVENTING ELECTION material delays and ensuring polling units open on time have emerged as key priorities for the 2027 General Election, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) inaugurated a multi-agency logistics committee and launched a nationwide campaign against voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence.
In its report, JKNewsMedia.com writes that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), inaugurated the Electoral Logistics Committee (ELOC) on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, charging members to ensure efficient movement and timely delivery of election materials across the country.
Amupitan said logistics remained one of the most critical and challenging aspects of election administration, stressing that voters must find their polling units open, equipped and ready at the appointed time.
“Today’s inauguration of the Electoral Logistics Committee marks a proactive step in ensuring that the 2027 General Election is defined by seamless execution and operational excellence,” he stressed.
He explained that the Commission adopted a multi-agency approach to address the complexities of transporting personnel and materials across Nigeria’s diverse terrain.
The Chairman also appointed National Commissioner, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd) to lead the committee, noting that her experience and the specialised skills of members drawn from military and paramilitary organisations would provide the discipline and strategic oversight required for the assignment.
He said the committee would assess the overall logistics requirements for the election and develop a comprehensive plan covering the storage, distribution, deployment and retrieval of election materials.
Its responsibilities also include auditing warehouses, vehicles, airports, seaports and transport hubs, identifying operational gaps, monitoring compliance with approved schedules and recommending corrective measures, Amupitan affirmed.
He added that the committee will identify and mitigate risks involving transport bottlenecks, material shortages and security threats, while coordinating with government agencies, transport unions, INEC departments and state offices.
Amupitan also emphasised the importance of planning for weather conditions, difficult terrain and security challenges, particularly in areas requiring specialised transportation arrangements.
“We must anticipate the weather, the terrain and the security environment to ensure that no Nigerian is disenfranchised due to late arrival of materials,” he said.
He described preparations for the 2027 General Election as “a marathon, not a sprint”, adding that the early establishment of the committee would support a transparent, efficient and credible electoral process.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Malafa said INEC had established inter-agency bodies during previous electoral cycles to manage complex operational responsibilities.
She described election logistics as the operational foundation of the democratic process, with direct implications for electoral integrity and public confidence.
Malafa said the committee would review previous elections and develop a strategic plan to improve the deployment of logistics equipment while eliminating critical operational weaknesses.
Its priorities include coordinating air cargo operations, distributing sensitive materials to airports and state capitals, assessing storage facilities and transport fleets, and monitoring the movement of personnel and materials to local government areas, including riverine communities.
She added that the committee would develop security arrangements involving transport unions, security agencies and INEC state offices, while mapping difficult terrain, security-challenged areas and locations vulnerable to crises.
The committee may also establish specialised sub-committees for air transport, land transportation, maritime operations, storage and security to provide targeted guidance across different operational environments.
Malafa said its success would depend on cooperation among participating agencies, supported by clear material schedules and policy coordination from INEC.
“This national assignment demands speed, precision and coordination,” she said, urging members to demonstrate patriotic dedication and professional excellence.
Representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, Central Bank of Nigeria, aviation authorities, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Nigeria Customs Service attended the inauguration.
Leaders of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers, the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria also attended.
Separately, Amupitan has directed the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify grassroots mobilisation against voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence ahead of the 2027 General Election.
He gave the directive on Thursday in Abuja during the flag-off of the agency’s nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign, urging its management, state directors and field officers to take voter education to communities across all 774 local government areas.
He asked the officials to carry the message to traditional palaces, markets, places of worship, campuses and village squares, describing them as a vital link between electoral policy and civic participation.
Amupitan said low voter turnout undermined democratic legitimacy by allowing a minority to determine outcomes when citizens failed to exercise their voting rights.
He urged Nigerians to verify their registration status, collect their Permanent Voter Cards, remain informed, vote peacefully and protect their communities from electoral violence.
“Do not wait until election week to get involved. Check your registration status, collect your PVCs now, stay informed, come out on Election Day, vote peacefully according to your conscience, and protect your community from violence,” he said.
The INEC Chairman assured voters that valid ballots would be counted accurately and reflected in the final results. He cited the combination of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as mechanisms supporting voter confidence.
On vote buying, he described the practice as an attack on constitutional democracy and said INEC had reconfigured polling unit layouts to protect ballot secrecy.
He also said the Commission was working through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and security agencies to monitor financial activities around polling environments and arrest those involved in vote buying.
Amupitan warned that electoral violence, hate speech and AI-generated deepfakes designed to incite ethnic and religious conflict required decisive action.
“No political ambition justifies the shedding of blood or the destruction of property,” he said, urging political parties, candidates and youth groups to pursue peaceful campaigns and use legal channels to resolve electoral disputes.
He also called on political parties to campaign on issues, respect electoral rules and avoid hate speech and vote buying. Civil society organisations and the media, he said, should continue monitoring the process, fact-check viral claims and provide objective information.
Amupitan disclosed that the National Register of Voters had exceeded 103 million, with 176,846 polling units nationwide. He added that INEC had completed nine of the 14 key statutory activities listed in its timetable for the election.
In his keynote address, NOA Director-General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu said the campaign would address the distinct effects of voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence on democratic participation, freedom of choice and community safety.
He said the agency would deploy its state directorates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers in all 774 local government areas.
JKNewsMedia.com also reports that Amupitan said the campaign which carries the theme: “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future: Say No to Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence. Let’s Build a United Nigeria in 2027”, will use community dialogues, local-language communication, radio discussions, drama, short audio messages and digital platforms.
Speaking, Issa-Onilu described the initiative as strictly non-partisan and sought INEC’s continued technical support, timely access to verified voter education information and coordination across national, state and local structures.
On the side, the event attracted national commissioners, security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and representatives of youth, women and persons with disabilities.
Amupitan also said the Commission would work with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), security partners and Nigerians to support a peaceful and credible 2027 General Election.
—
Share Your Story with us!
Advertise with us!
Publicity for a product, service, or event!
Contact: WhatsApp Only: +2348039560647
Email: jkmediapress@gmail.com
