2027: No One Must Be Disenfranchised Due to Late Arrival of Materials, Says Amupitan

• Inaugurates multi-agency logistics committee 

•Urges NOA officials to take message against voter apathy, vote buying, violence everywhere

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has said no Nigerian must be disenfranchised due to late arrival of materials as preparations continue for the 2027 general election.

Amupitan made the statement yesterday in Abuja while inaugurating the Electoral Logistics Committee (ELOC) for the 2027 elections. He charged members of the committee to deliver seamless execution of the commission’s logistics operations.

Amupitan said the inauguration marked the beginning of the commission’s journey towards the 2027 general election, with a primary focus on strengthening the pillars that support the democratic process.

The chairman stated that logistics was one of the most critical pillars of electoral processes and often the most challenging.

“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 said.

Amupitan explained that INEC opted for a multi-agency approach in view of the complexities of moving men and materials across the vast and varied terrain of Nigeria.

He stressed that the success of any election depended largely on logistics, saying the credibility of the process is ultimately judged by whether voters find their polling units open, equipped, and ready at the appointed time.

He added, “Election logistics involve the intricate movement of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials by land, sea and air. It requires precision, security and timeliness. This is why we are starting early.”

The INEC chair outlined the committee’s terms of reference, which included assessing the total logistics requirement for the 2027 general election and developing a comprehensive plan for the storage, distribution, deployment, and retrieval of all election materials.

He mandated the committee to audit the readiness of warehouses, vehicles and transport hubs, including airports and seaports, identify gaps at all levels, and recommend corrective measures.

Other terms of reference included monitoring compliance with approved logistics plans and schedules, identifying and mitigating risks, such as transportation bottlenecks, shortages and security threats, and formalising arrangements for the secure transport of materials through road, air, and maritime channels.

The committee would also liaise with government agencies and transport unions, coordinate with INEC departments and state offices, and submit periodic reports and recommendations to the commission, Amupitan stated.

He announced Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd), a National Commissioner, as Chairperson of the committee.

Speaking on behalf of the committee, Malafa said the commission had over the years established inter-agency bodies to handle complex operational tasks and election logistics in each electoral cycle.

“Managing election logistics is the operational bedrock of our democratic process, directly impacting electoral integrity and public confidence,” she said.

Meanwhile, Amupitan charged the leadership and field officers of National Orientation Agency (NOA) to take the message against voter apathy, vote buying, and electoral violence to every community in the country.

He gave the charge in Abuja at the flag-off of the NOA Nationwide Grassroots Mobilisation for the 2027 General Election.

Addressing the agency’s management, State Directors, and field personnel, Amupitan described them as, “The vital bridge between electoral policy and civic action.”

He urged them, as they embarked on the campaign across all 774 local government areas, to take the message “to every palace, market, place of worship, campus, and village square”.

Director-General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said voter apathy weakened the breadth of public participation and left important decisions to fewer people.

Onilu stated, “No political ambition should cost a Nigerian life. No disagreement should destroy the bonds between neighbours. No temporary inducement should determine a citizen’s choice about our collective future.”