TheCable

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has requested the support of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) for the delivery of election materials ahead of the February 3 rerun and by-elections.

Yakubu spoke on Monday during a visit to Hassan Abubakar, chief of air staff, in Abuja.

The INEC chairman said the elections will be held in 575 registration areas and 8,934 polling units involving  4,904,627 registered voters.

He added that  4,613,291 permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) have already been collected.

Yakubu said the commission cannot handle such a huge national assignment alone, adding that INEC seeks to mobilise every national asset, 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 remarks, Abubakar assured INEC that the air force would continue to support the commission to deliver credible elections to strengthen 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 said the relationship between NAF and INEC had been anchored on shared objectives geared toward ensuring that good governance, stability and the rule of law reign throughout Nigeria.