The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has inaugurated a multi-agency electoral logistics committee to coordinate preparations for the 2027 general elections, warning that no Nigerian should lose the opportunity to vote because of delays in delivering election materials.
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The commission also urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify grassroots voter education to tackle voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence ahead of the elections scheduled for January 16 and February 6, 2027.
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INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, gave the directives on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the logistics committee and the launch of the NOA’s nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign.
Amupitan said the committee would strengthen INEC’s operational capacity by ensuring the timely movement of personnel and election materials across the country.
He explained that the complex task of transporting sensitive and non-sensitive materials across Nigeria’s varied terrain made cooperation among government agencies, security organisations and transport operators necessary.
The committee is chaired by National Commissioner Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (retd.) and includes representatives of security agencies, transport unions and relevant government institutions.
Amupitan said the credibility of an election depended partly on whether polling units were open, properly equipped and ready to receive voters at the scheduled time. He added that early planning would help the commission anticipate challenges associated with weather conditions, difficult terrain and security threats.
The committee is expected to assess INEC’s logistics needs and develop a comprehensive plan for storing, distributing, deploying and retrieving election materials. It will also inspect warehouses, vehicles, airports and seaports to determine their readiness.
Other responsibilities include identifying operational weaknesses, recommending corrective measures, monitoring compliance with approved schedules and developing strategies to address transport bottlenecks, shortages and security risks.
The committee will also coordinate the secure movement of election materials by road, air and sea, work with relevant government agencies and transport unions, and submit periodic reports to INEC.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Malafa said its work would include reviewing previous elections, identifying logistical weaknesses and developing measures to ensure personnel and materials reached their destinations on time.
She said particular attention would be given to air transport, cargo handling, road and maritime movement, storage facilities and security arrangements.
According to her, the committee would map difficult terrain, security-challenged areas and locations prone to crises to enable the development of tailored transportation and security plans. Specialised subcommittees could also be established to manage airlift, land transport, maritime operations, storage and security.
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Meanwhile, during the launch of the NOA’s grassroots mobilisation campaign, Amupitan urged the agency’s officials to take voter education messages to communities across all 774 local government areas.
He called for outreach at traditional palaces, markets, places of worship, university campuses and village squares, identifying voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence as major threats to credible elections.
On voter apathy, the INEC chairman urged Nigerians to verify their registration details, collect their Permanent Voter Cards and participate peacefully in the elections. He warned that citizens who refused to vote risked surrendering their democratic power to others.
Amupitan assured voters that their ballots would be accurately counted and reflected in the final results, pointing to the commission’s use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing portal.
He condemned vote buying, describing the practice as a threat to constitutional democracy. He said INEC had adjusted polling unit layouts to protect ballot secrecy and prevent voters from displaying their marked ballots to party agents or people seeking to influence their choices with money.
The chairman added that INEC was working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and other security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to monitor financial activities around polling units and apprehend suspected vote buyers.
On electoral violence, Amupitan warned political actors against actions capable of endangering lives or disrupting peaceful participation. He also expressed concern about the use of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes to provoke ethnic and religious tensions.
He urged political parties, candidates and youth groups to promote peaceful participation and resolve electoral disputes through lawful channels. Civil society organisations and the media were also encouraged to verify viral claims and provide accurate electoral information.
In his remarks, NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu said the campaign would be implemented through the agency’s directorates in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers in the 774 local government areas.
He said the campaign would remain non-partisan and use community dialogues, local-language messaging, radio discussions, drama, audio messages and digital platforms to reach citizens.
Issa-Onilu said voter apathy weakened public participation, vote buying compromised voters’ freedom of choice, while electoral violence threatened lives and damaged relationships within communities.
He called for continued technical cooperation with INEC, including timely access to verified voter education materials and coordination across national, state and local structures.
The campaign is themed Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future: Say No to Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence. Let’s Build a United Nigeria in 2027.
The event was attended by INEC national commissioners, security agency representatives, political parties, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and representatives of youth, women and persons with disabilities.
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