The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has inaugurated a multi-agency logistics committee to tackle transportation bottlenecks, security risks and delays in the delivery of election materials ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who inaugurated the team on Thursday in Abuja, stressed that the credibility of the polls would depend largely on the timely delivery of materials to polling units nationwide.
“No matter how advanced our technology or how robust our policies, the credibility of the process is ultimately judged by whether a voter finds a polling unit open, equipped, and ready at the appointed time,” he said.
Amupitan named Rear Admiral Jamila Sadiq Malafat as chairperson of the committee, which comprises experts drawn from the military and paramilitary services to coordinate the movement of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials by road, air and sea.
He said the committee would assess the commission’s logistics requirements, develop plans for the storage and distribution of election materials, audit the readiness of warehouses and transportation facilities, and recommend measures to address identified gaps.
Its responsibilities also include mitigating security threats, monitoring compliance with logistics schedules and coordinating with government agencies, transport unions and INEC state offices to ensure timely delivery of materials.
The INEC chairman urged members to develop a flexible logistics plan capable of addressing the country’s diverse terrain and security challenges.
“Nigeria’s geography, from the creeks of the Niger Delta to the arid plains of the north, demands a logistics plan that is both flexible and resilient,” he said.
He added that the commission was starting early to prevent logistical failures from disenfranchising voters.
“The 2027 general election is a marathon, not a sprint,” Amupitan said, urging committee members to demonstrate commitment to the national assignment.
