The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan has inaugurated the Electoral Logistics Committee (ELOC) for the 2027 General Election, charging its members to deliver seamless execution of the Commission’s logistics operations.
Speaking at the event, Professor Amupitan said the exercise 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.
According to him, logistics remains one of the most critical of these pillars 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,” the Chairman said.
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Professor Amupitan explained that the Commission 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 announced Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (rtd), a National Commissioner, as Chairperson of the committee.
The INEC Chairman said her distinguished career, combined with the specialised skills of members drawn from military and paramilitary bodies, would provide the discipline and strategic oversight required for the task.
He said that the inclusion of security and logistics experts from various arms of service “underscores our resolve to treat election logistics as a matter of national priority.”
Professor Amupitan noted that the success of any election depends largely on logistics, stressing that the credibility of the process is ultimately judged by 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.
The INEC Chairman outlined the committee’s terms of reference, which include 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.
The committee is also to audit the readiness of warehouses, vehicles and transport hubs, including airports and seaports, identify gaps at all levels and recommend corrective measures.
Formalising Arrangements
Other terms of reference include 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 will also liaise with government agencies and transport unions, coordinate with INEC departments and state offices, and submit periodic reports and recommendations to the Commission.
Professot Amupitan said Nigeria’s geography, from the creeks of the Niger Delta to the arid plains of the north, demands a logistics plan that is both flexible and resilient.
“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.
He described the 2027 General Election as “a marathon, not a sprint,” explaining that the inauguration of the committee was laying the foundation for a transparent, efficient and credible election.
Speaking on behalf of the committee, Rear Admiral 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.
She said the core mandate of the committee was to drive a strategic plan, informed by a review of past elections, to ensure seamless deployment of logistics equipment and eliminate systemic and critical vulnerabilities.
Rear Admiral (rtd) Malafa listed the committee’s areas of focus to include strategic air and cargo planning for the airlift, receipt and distribution of sensitive materials to airports and state capitals.
She said the committee would also map bottlenecks and inadequacies in storage facilities, vehicles, fleets, aircraft availability and cargo handling, in order to prevent deployment delays.
According to her, the committee will source, coordinate and monitor the movement of men and materials down to the local government areas, including marine and riverine areas.
It will also formulate an operational security template integrating transport unions, security agencies and state offices, and map difficult terrains, security-challenged zones and crisis-prone locations, with customised transit and security arrangements for each.
The committee, she added, will submit a comprehensive and harmonised report detailing clear action plans with strict operational timelines.
Rear Admiral Malafa said the committee may constitute ad hoc sub-committees on airlift operations, land transportation, maritime transportation, storage operations and security operations, to provide specialised guidance in regular and difficult terrains.
She stated that the success of the committee would depend largely on inter-agency cooperation, while the Commission would provide clear material schedules and overall policy coordination.
“This national assignment demands speed, precision and coordination,” she said, urging members to approach the task “with patriotic dedication and professional excellence.”
The inauguration was attended by the Representative of the Inspector General of Police, who is Commissioner of Police in Charge of Elections, Abayomi Shogunle, Representatives of the Nigerian Correctional Service, the Central Bank of Nigeria, representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, the Nigerian Ports Authority, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Customs Service.
Also present were leaders of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.
