The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has inaugurated its Electoral Logistics Committee (ELOC) for the 2027 General Election, tasking members with ensuring the timely, secure and efficient movement of personnel and election materials across the country.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, inaugurated the committee, describing the move as an early step towards strengthening the operational framework required for a seamless and credible electoral process.
He said logistics remained one of the most critical and challenging aspects of election administration, requiring careful planning and coordination to ensure that materials reached polling units on time.
“The 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,” Amupitan said.
He explained that the Commission adopted a multi-agency approach because of the complexities involved in transporting personnel and materials across Nigeria’s diverse geographical terrain.
Amupitan announced Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd.), an INEC National Commissioner, as chairperson of the committee.
He expressed confidence that her experience, alongside the specialised expertise of members drawn from military and paramilitary organisations, would provide the discipline and strategic oversight required to deliver on the committee’s mandate.
The chairman said the inclusion of security and logistics experts from various services reflected the Commission’s determination to make election logistics a national priority.
READ ALSO:Â INEC Releases Final List of Candidates for 2027 Elections
He stressed that the credibility of an election depended significantly on whether voters found their polling units open and adequately equipped at the designated time.
“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,” he said.
Amupitan said the committee’s terms of reference included assessing the overall logistics requirements for the 2027 General Election and preparing a comprehensive plan for the storage, distribution, deployment and retrieval of election materials.
It is also expected to assess the readiness of warehouses, vehicles and transport facilities, including airports and seaports, identify operational gaps and recommend corrective measures.
Other responsibilities include monitoring compliance with approved logistics plans, identifying and mitigating risks such as transport bottlenecks, material shortages and security threats, and coordinating arrangements for the secure movement of election materials by road, air and water.
The committee will also work with relevant government agencies, transport unions, INEC departments and state offices, while submitting periodic reports and recommendations to the Commission.
He described preparations for the 2027 General Election as “a marathon, not a sprint”, adding that the committee’s inauguration laid the groundwork for a transparent, efficient and credible poll.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Malafa said INEC had established inter-agency bodies in previous electoral cycles to manage complex operational assignments, including election logistics.
She described logistics as the operational foundation of the democratic process, noting that its effectiveness directly influenced electoral integrity and public confidence.
Malafa said the committee would develop a strategic plan informed by lessons from previous elections, with the aim of improving deployment and addressing systemic weaknesses.
She identified strategic air and cargo planning for the transportation, receipt and distribution of sensitive materials to airports and state capitals as one of its priorities.
The committee would also assess gaps in storage facilities, vehicles, transport fleets, aircraft availability and cargo-handling capacity to minimise deployment delays.
According to her, members would coordinate and monitor the movement of personnel and materials down to local government areas, including riverine and maritime communities.
She added that the committee would develop an operational security framework involving transport unions, security agencies and INEC state offices. It would also identify difficult terrains, security-challenged areas and crisis-prone locations, with tailored transportation and security arrangements for each.
Malafa said the committee would submit a comprehensive report containing harmonised recommendations, clear action plans and strict operational timelines.
She added that ad hoc subcommittees could be established to provide specialised guidance on air transport, land transportation, maritime operations, storage and security.
The committee chairperson emphasised that effective inter-agency cooperation would be essential to its success, while INEC would provide material schedules and overall policy coordination.
“This national assignment demands speed, precision and coordination,” she said, urging members to discharge their responsibilities with patriotic dedication and professional excellence.
