Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has asked for the Nigerian Air Force‘s (NAF) assistance in delivering election materials for the upcoming February 3 rerun and by-elections.
Yakubu made this request during a visit to Hassan Abubakar, the chief of air staff, in Abuja on Monday.
Yakubu stated that the elections will take place in 575 registration areas and 8,934 polling units, involving a total of 4,904,627 registered voters. He also mentioned that 4,613,291 permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) have already been collected.
Yakubu emphasized that the commission cannot handle such a massive national task on its own. Therefore, INEC aims to mobilize all available national resources, including the NAF, for the by-elections and rerun.
“It is in the realisation of this objective that the law empowers the commission to seek the support of the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies,” he said.
“The commission needs their support in the delivery of materials and the protection of election officials as clearly provided for in section 27(3) of the Electoral Act 2022.
“The elections are holding on Saturday. Working with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), materials are being delivered to many locations.
“However, given the size and distance of some constituencies, we seek the support of NAF to expeditiously deliver materials to the north-east, south-east and south-west geo-political zones of the country.
“We have already indicated to the chief of the air staff, the specific locations and the tonnage of materials to be airlifted.”,
In his statement, Abubakar reassured INEC that the air force will continue to assist the commission in conducting fair elections to enhance the country’s democracy.
“The successful conduct of elections is largely hinged on robust security and well-choreographed logistics supply chain management.
“I assure you that we remain willing and able and ready to continue supporting INEC as we have always done in the past.”
Abubakar emphasized that the partnership between NAF and INEC is based on common goals to promote good governance, stability, and the rule of law across Nigeria.
