The Independent National Electoral Commission has set up a multi-agency committee to coordinate logistics for the 2027 general elections, warning that delays in delivering election materials must not prevent eligible Nigerians from voting.
The commission also called on the National Orientation Agency to step up nationwide voter education to tackle voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence ahead of the elections scheduled for January 16 and February 6, 2027.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Electoral Logistics Committee and the launch of the NOA’s grassroots mobilisation campaign.
Amupitan said the committee was established to improve operational planning and ensure election personnel and materials reach their destinations on time, despite the country’s challenging geographical conditions.
“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,” the INEC chairman said.
He appointed National Commissioner, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (retd.), to head the committee, which includes representatives of security agencies, transport unions and relevant government institutions.
According to Amupitan, the success of an election depends partly on whether polling units are accessible, properly equipped and ready to receive voters at the scheduled 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.
The committee will evaluate INEC’s logistical needs and prepare a detailed framework for the storage, distribution, deployment and recovery of election materials. It will also inspect the readiness of warehouses, vehicles, airports and seaports.
Its responsibilities include identifying weaknesses in existing arrangements, proposing solutions, tracking compliance with approved schedules and developing measures to overcome transportation delays, shortages and security risks.
The panel will further coordinate the movement of election materials by road, air and sea, work with relevant government agencies and transport unions, and submit regular reports to the commission.
Amupitan said the logistics plan must accommodate changing weather conditions, difficult terrain and security concerns across different parts of the country.
“We must anticipate the weather, the terrain and the security environment to ensure that no Nigerian is disenfranchised due to late arrival of materials,” he said.
Describing preparations for the elections as “a marathon, not a sprint,” the chairman said early coordination was necessary to ensure a transparent, efficient and credible electoral process.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Malafa said members would examine the conduct of previous elections, identify shortcomings and recommend measures to improve the timely delivery of personnel and materials.
She explained that the committee would assess air transport, cargo handling, road and maritime operations, storage facilities and security arrangements.
Malafa added that members would identify difficult-to-access locations, areas facing security challenges and communities vulnerable to crises to facilitate tailored transportation and security plans.
She said the committee could also create specialised subcommittees to oversee airlift operations, land and maritime transportation, storage and security, stressing that cooperation among the participating agencies would be critical to its success.
INEC Tasks NOA With Grassroots Voter Education
At the launch of the NOA’s nationwide mobilisation campaign, Amupitan urged the agency’s leadership and field officers to take voter education directly to communities across the country.
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He called for outreach programmes in traditional palaces, markets, places of worship, campuses and village squares across all 774 local government areas.
The INEC chairman identified low voter turnout, vote buying and electoral violence as major challenges that could undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections.
Addressing voter apathy, he said citizens who stayed away from the polls gave up their democratic influence, urging Nigerians to confirm their registration details, obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and participate peacefully.
“Do not wait until election week to get involved. Check your registration status, collect your PVCs now, stay informed, come out on Election Day, vote peacefully according to your conscience, and protect your community from violence,” he said.
Amupitan assured voters that their ballots would be properly counted and reflected in the final results, pointing to the commission’s deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing portal.
He described vote buying as an attack on constitutional democracy, noting that INEC had adjusted polling unit arrangements to safeguard ballot secrecy and prevent voters from displaying their marked ballots to party agents or people seeking to influence their choices with money.
He also disclosed that the commission was collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
The partnership, he said, would help monitor financial activities around polling units and enable authorities to apprehend individuals involved in vote buying.
On electoral violence, Amupitan cautioned political actors against hate speech, violence and other conduct that could discourage peaceful participation.
“No political ambition justifies the shedding of blood or the destruction of property,” he said.
He also expressed concern about the use of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes to provoke ethnic and religious tensions, urging political parties, candidates and youth groups to promote peace and settle electoral disputes through lawful means.
The chairman called on political parties to focus their campaigns on substantive issues rather than hate speech and vote buying. He also urged civil society groups and media organisations to verify viral claims and provide the public with accurate electoral information.
NOA Targets Communities Across 36 States, FCT
In his remarks, NOA Director-General, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency would implement the campaign through its directorates in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, supported by Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers in all 774 local government areas.
He said the initiative would remain non-partisan and rely on 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 endangered lives and strained relationships within communities.
“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,” he said.
The NOA chief called for sustained technical cooperation with INEC, including timely access to verified voter education materials and effective coordination among national, state and local structures.
He said the campaign, themed “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Future: Say No to Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence. Let’s Build a United Nigeria in 2027”, was intended to increase voter participation and promote peaceful elections.
The event drew INEC national commissioners, security agency representatives, political parties, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, as well as representatives of youth groups, women and persons with disabilities.