Ahead of the 2023 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has initiated collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force on movement of electoral materials to ensure their secured delivery at polling destinations across the country.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made the call during a courtesy call on the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal IO Amao, at the Nigerian Air Force Headquaters, Abuja.
Yakubu praised the neutrality and professionalism of the Air Force, stating that the collaboration of the two agencies in the past has been of tremendous benefit to the electoral process and the consolidation of democracy in Nigeria.
The INEC boss, who cited Section 27 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022, said the law empowers the commission to seek the support of the security agencies in general and the Armed Forces in particular in delivering materials for election and the protection of election officials.
“Accordingly, the Commission is here today to explore more effective ways of ensuring that working together as provided by law, we address aspects of the perennial issue of logistics in our elections in which we believe the Air Force has a critical role to play in the movement of materials.
“This will be extended to other Armed Services in our determination to efficiently deliver materials and more efficiently serve Nigerians on Election Day,” he said.
According to him, election constitutes the most extensive mobilisation and complex logistics operations that could happen in a country in peacetime.
“On 25th February and 11th March 2023, the Commission will deploy personnel and materials to about 190,000 voting and collation locations nationwide for 1,491 executive and legislative offices across Nigeria. These activities must take place simultaneously, stretching over 923,768km2 within a space of six voting hours (8.30am – 2.30pm) involving a projected population of 90 million voters.
“It is obvious that in handling such a huge national assignment, the Commission cannot do it alone. Every national asset must be mobilised. It is in realisation of this objective that the law empowers the Commission to seek the support of the security agencies in general and the Armed Forces in particular in delivering materials for election and the protection of election officials,” he said.
He noted that there is no time to waste as the 2023 general election is only 261 days from today, while the Ekiti State Governorship election is holding in the next 10 days on Saturday 18th June 2022, and the Osun Governorship election holds in 38 days on Saturday 16th July 2022.
“We will seek the support of the Air Force in handling the delivery of outstanding election materials to the two States while the Commission bears responsibility for all subsequent deployment within the States to the Local Government Areas and beyond as has been the practice,” he said.
Also speaking, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Amao, assured INEC of the support of the Nigeria Air Force in airlifting electoral materials to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible polls.
Amao expressed confidence that INEC’s collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies will enhance its efforts at conducting credible polls in 2023.
