By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has emphasized the importance of stronger collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force to ensure credible, secure and well-coordinated elections across the country.
Amupitan stated this while receiving the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and his delegation during a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Welcoming the Air Chief and his team, the INEC chairman described the visit as a strong sign of confidence in the Commission and an important step in strengthening cooperation between both institutions ahead of upcoming elections.
He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Air Force for its consistent support to the electoral body, particularly in providing logistics and security assistance before and during elections across the country.
According to him, the support of the Air Force has played a crucial role in ensuring smooth electoral operations and safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process.
“As we look forward to the upcoming elections, we recognize the challenges that lie ahead. But we are confident that with your continued partnership and support, we can ensure a secure and orderly environment for citizens to exercise their democratic rights,” he said.
The INEC chairman noted that the Commission had already released the timetable for the 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state assembly elections will be held on February 16, 2027 in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
He also highlighted the importance of logistics in election management, stressing that effective deployment of personnel and materials remains a critical factor in the success of any electoral exercise.
“An election can only be as good as its logistics. If we are able to deploy materials and personnel on time across the country, that will significantly improve the credibility of the process,” Amupitan said.
He further disclosed that the Commission would soon conduct off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti State in June and Osun State on August 15, describing the elections as crucial tests ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Responding, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Aneke, reaffirmed the Nigerian Air Force’s readiness to continue supporting INEC through logistics, security and surveillance operations.
He said the Air Force remains a dependable partner in ensuring the successful conduct of elections, particularly in the rapid airlift of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials to difficult terrains across Nigeria.
“The successful conduct of elections is closely tied to effective security arrangements and efficient logistics management. The Nigerian Air Force remains willing, able and ready to continue providing such support whenever required,” he said.
Aneke also disclosed that the Air Force is strengthening its operational capacity by ensuring that its aircraft undergo routine maintenance and are ready for deployment during future electoral operations.
Beyond airlift support, he said the NAF would also deploy intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, including drones and unmanned aerial vehicles, to monitor election environments and detect potential security threats.
According to him, the use of aerial surveillance could support early detection of disturbances and improve coordination among security agencies responsible for safeguarding the electoral process.
The Air Chief further emphasized the importance of planning and simulation exercises ahead of major operations, noting that rehearsals and preparatory drills are critical in identifying potential challenges and ensuring smoother execution during elections.
He assured the Commission that the Nigerian Air Force would continue to collaborate closely with other security agencies to protect electoral infrastructure, including INEC facilities, collation centres and logistics hubs across the country.
Both institutions expressed optimism that stronger cooperation between electoral authorities and security agencies would contribute significantly to credible, peaceful and transparent elections in Nigeria.
