By our Reporter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) inaugurated an inter-agency Electoral Logistics Committee (ELOC) to strengthen the movement, security and timely delivery of election materials ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 General Election.
The committee, inaugurated by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
The Committee is expected to develop a comprehensive logistics framework to ensure the seamless deployment of personnel and sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials across the country.
Prof. Amupitan, who described logistics as one of the most critical and challenging pillars of election administration, said the commission was taking proactive steps to ensure that the 2027 elections were characterised by operational efficiency, effective coordination and timely delivery of materials.
He announced Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (Rtd.) as chairperson of the committee, noting that the involvement of military and paramilitary personnel, alongside other relevant agencies, would provide the expertise, discipline and strategic oversight required for the assignment.
According to the INEC chairman, the success of an election depends significantly on the availability of election materials at the right locations and at the appointed time, regardless of the terrain or prevailing security conditions.
The INEC Chairman said the committee had been given the responsibility of assessing the commission’s total logistics requirements for the 2027 elections and developing a comprehensive plan for the storage, distribution, deployment and retrieval of electoral materials.
Other responsibilities include auditing the readiness of warehouses, vehicles and transport hubs, including airports and seaports; identifying operational gaps; recommending corrective measures; and monitoring compliance with approved logistics plans and schedules.
The committee is also expected to identify and mitigate risks associated with transportation bottlenecks, material shortages and security threats, while coordinating with INEC departments, state offices, government agencies, transport unions and other stakeholders to facilitate efficient movement of electoral materials.
He said the commission was determined to ensure that no eligible Nigerian voter was disenfranchised because of the late arrival of election materials.
In her remarks, the chairperson of the Electoral Logistics Committee, Rear Admiral Jamila Malafa (Rtd.), described logistics management as the operational bedrock of the democratic process, noting that its effectiveness directly affects electoral integrity and public confidence.
She said the committee would develop a strategic logistics plan informed by lessons from previous elections, with a focus on addressing operational weaknesses and preventing delays in the deployment of electoral materials.
Malafa identified strategic air and cargo planning, transportation coordination, security arrangements and risk mapping as key areas of the committee’s assignment.
The committee will also coordinate the movement of personnel and materials to state capitals and local government areas, including riverine communities that require maritime transportation.
According to her, difficult terrains, security-challenged areas and locations prone to crises will be mapped to enable the development of tailored transportation and security arrangements.
She emphasised that effective collaboration among government agencies, security organisations, transport unions, aviation and maritime authorities, and INEC state offices would be essential to achieving the committee’s objectives.
Malafa urged members to approach the assignment with patriotism, professionalism, speed and precision, stressing that the successful conduct of the 2027 General Election would depend significantly on strategic planning and coordinated execution.
