INEC has inaugurated a multi-agency committee for 2027 election logistics and tasked the NOA with mobilising voters against apathy, vote buying and violence.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has inaugurated a multi-agency electoral logistics committee for the 2027 general elections, warning that no Nigerian should be disenfranchised because of delays in the arrival of election materials.
The commission also charged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify grassroots mobilisation against 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) gave the charge on Thursday in Abuja at the inauguration of the committee and the flag-off of the NOA’s nationwide mobilisation campaign.
A Multi-Agency Logistics Committee
Amupitan said the Electoral Logistics Committee (ELOC) would strengthen the commission’s operational capacity and ensure the timely deployment of personnel and election materials across the country. He said the multi-agency approach was informed by the complexity of moving materials across Nigeria’s varied terrain.
“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.
He named National Commissioner Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (retd.) as chairperson. The committee comprises representatives of security agencies, transport unions and relevant government institutions.
Amupitan said an election’s credibility depends significantly on whether voters find their polling units open, equipped and ready at the appointed 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. He described preparations as “a marathon, not a sprint.”
What the Committee Will Do
The committee is expected to assess the commission’s logistics requirements and develop a comprehensive plan for storing, distributing, deploying and retrieving election materials. It will also audit the readiness of warehouses, vehicles, airports and seaports.
Its other tasks include identifying operational gaps and recommending corrective measures, monitoring compliance with approved logistics schedules, and developing strategies to address transport bottlenecks, shortages and security threats. It is also to coordinate the secure movement of materials by road, air and sea, work with government agencies and transport unions, and submit periodic reports to the commission.
“We must anticipate the weather, the terrain and the security environment to ensure that no Nigerian is disenfranchised due to late arrival of materials,” Amupitan said.
Speaking for the committee, Malafa said its mandate includes reviewing previous elections, identifying operational weaknesses and developing plans for the timely deployment of personnel and materials. She said it would focus on airlift operations, cargo handling, land and maritime transport, storage facilities and security arrangements, and would map difficult terrain, security-challenged areas and crisis-prone locations to design tailored transport and security plans. She added that the committee could set up subcommittees for airlift, land transport, maritime transport, storage and security.
Grassroots Campaign Against Apathy, Vote Buying and Violence
At the flag-off of the NOA’s campaign, Amupitan urged its leaders and field officers to take voter education to traditional palaces, markets, places of worship, campuses and village squares in all 774 local government areas.
He named voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence as the main threats to the credibility of the 2027 elections.
On apathy, he said citizens who fail to vote hand their democratic power to others. “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.
He assured voters that their ballots would be accurately counted and reflected in the final results, citing the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
Vote Buying and Electoral Violence
Amupitan condemned vote buying as an attack on constitutional democracy. He said INEC had reconfigured polling unit layouts to protect ballot secrecy and prevent voters from showing marked ballots to party agents or anyone trying to influence them with money.
He said the commission was working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and other agencies, through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, to monitor financial activity around polling units and arrest those involved.
On violence, he warned political actors against violence and hate speech. “No political ambition justifies the shedding of blood or the destruction of property,” he said. He also raised concern about the use of AI-generated deepfakes to incite ethnic and religious conflict, urged parties to campaign on issues, and called on civil society and the media to fact-check viral claims.
NOA’s Plan
NOA Director-General Lanre Issa-Onilu said the campaign would run through the agency’s directorates in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and through community orientation officers in the 774 local government areas. He said it would be non-partisan and would use community dialogues, local-language communication, radio discussions, drama, audio messages and digital platforms.
“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 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 and representatives of security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and youth, women and persons with disabilities.
