The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun early preparations for the 2027 general elections with the inauguration of a multi-agency logistics committee to ensure the timely distribution of election materials across Nigeria.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the commission would not allow delays in the arrival of election materials to prevent eligible Nigerians from exercising their voting rights.
Amupitan spoke on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Electoral Logistics Committee and the flag-off of the National Orientation Agency’s (NOA) nationwide grassroots mobilisation campaign.
He said the committee would strengthen INEC’s operational capacity by coordinating the movement of personnel and election materials across the country.
According to him, Nigeria’s diverse geographical terrain makes early planning essential for the effective transportation of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials by road, air and sea.
The committee is chaired by INEC National Commissioner Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (retd.) and comprises representatives of security agencies, transport unions and relevant government institutions.
Amupitan said the committee would assess logistics requirements, develop plans for storing and distributing election materials, and examine the readiness of warehouses, vehicles, airports and seaports.
It will also identify operational gaps, recommend corrective measures, monitor logistics schedules and develop strategies to address transportation bottlenecks, shortages and security threats.
Other responsibilities include coordinating the secure movement of materials across road, air and maritime routes, working with relevant government agencies and transport unions, and submitting periodic reports to the commission.
The INEC chairman said the logistics framework must account for weather conditions, difficult terrain and security challenges to ensure polling units are ready when voting begins.
He described preparations for the elections as a marathon rather than a sprint, stressing that early planning was necessary to deliver a transparent, efficient and credible electoral process.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Malafa said members would review previous elections, identify operational weaknesses and develop strategies to ensure the timely deployment of election materials and personnel.
She added that the committee would focus on airlift operations, cargo handling, land and maritime transportation, storage facilities and security arrangements.
The committee would also map difficult terrain, security-challenged areas and crisis-prone locations to support tailored transportation and security plans.
INEC Targets Voter Apathy, Vote Buying
Meanwhile, Amupitan has urged the National Orientation Agency to intensify voter education and grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections.
He called on the agency to take its campaign to traditional palaces, markets, places of worship, campuses and village squares across all 774 local government areas.
The INEC chairman identified voter apathy, vote buying and electoral violence as major threats to the credibility of the elections.
He urged Nigerians to verify their voter registration status, collect their Permanent Voter Cards and participate peacefully in the electoral process.
Amupitan also assured voters that their ballots would be accurately counted and reflected in the final results, citing the commission’s use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing portal.
On vote buying, he said the commission had reconfigured polling unit layouts to protect ballot secrecy and prevent voters from displaying their marked ballots to party agents or individuals seeking to influence their choices with money.
He 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 offenders.
Amupitan also warned political actors against violence, hate speech and other actions capable of undermining peaceful participation.
He expressed concern about the use of artificial intelligence-generated deepfakes to incite ethnic and religious conflict, urging political parties, candidates and youth groups to promote peace and resolve electoral disputes through lawful channels.
He further called on political parties to focus their campaigns on issues rather than hate speech or vote buying, while urging civil society organisations and the media to fact-check viral claims and promote accurate electoral information.
NOA Launches Nationwide Voter Education Campaign
The Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, said the agency would implement the mobilisation campaign through its 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 communication, radio discussions, drama, audio messages and digital platforms to reach citizens.
Issa-Onilu said voter apathy reduced public participation, vote buying undermined freedom of choice, while electoral violence threatened lives and damaged relationships within communities.
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.”
According to the NOA director-general, the initiative is designed to encourage greater citizen participation and promote peaceful elections.
He also called for continued technical collaboration with INEC, including timely access to verified voter education materials and coordination across national, state and local structures.
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.
