‘No Nigerian should be disenfranchised due to late arrival of materials’ – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that no Nigerian voter should face disenfranchisement in the 2027 general election due to late arrival of electoral materials. During the inauguration of a multi-agency Electoral Logistics Committee on Thursday in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, addressed the critical importance of this issue.

The committee's mandate includes inspecting warehouses, vehicles, and transport facilities, including airports and seaports, to guarantee the timely transportation of election materials across the nation. According to Amupitan, election logistics present one of the most significant challenges in the electoral process, necessitating meticulous planning, robust security measures, and seamless coordination.

He emphasized that anticipation of weather conditions, terrain, and security environments is essential to prevent any Nigerian from being deprived of their right to vote due to late material delivery. Amupitan elaborated that the transportation of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials via road, air, and sea demands advanced preparation to avert any inconveniences on election day.

The commission's adoption of a multi-agency approach, he explained, is a response to the multifaceted challenges inherent in moving personnel and materials across Nigeria's diverse geographical landscapes. The INEC chairman underscored that the success of an election is contingent on the readiness of polling units to accommodate voters at their designated times.

He described the forthcoming 2027 general election as a marathon, not a sprint, highlighting the necessity for an early establishment of the committee as a foundational step towards ensuring an efficient and credible electoral process.