Nigerian Air Force has agreed to airlift election materials for Saturday’s reruns and by-elections.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, committed when the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, paid him a courtesy visit, yesterday, in Abuja.
Yakubu had requested the assistance of the Air Force to deliver materials to three locations in the North East, South East and South West geo-political zones of the country.
Yakubu said the commission would conduct by-elections and reruns in 26 states of the Federation, explaining that in nine states, two senators, four members of the House of Representatives and three members of state Houses of Assembly would be elected in by-elections to replace members, who passed on or resigned their memberships of the national and state assemblies.
According to the INEC chairman, reruns will take place at designated constituencies or Polling Units as ordered by the election appeal tribunals.
Noting that the electoral umpire could not handle such a huge national assignment alone, Yakubu said INEC sought to mobilise every national asset, including NAF.
He said: “The elections are holding this weekend. Working with the Central Bank of Nigeria, 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 three locations in the Northeast, Southeast and Southwest 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.”
Responding, the air chief described INEC as a dependable partner in providing security in addition to rapid airlift for the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials across the country.
Abubakar said the relationship between NAF and the electoral umpire has been anchored on shared objectives geared towards ensuring that good governance, stability, and the rule of law reign in Nigeria.
