The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to settle its outstanding bills to facilitate the Nigerian Air Force’s (NAF) assistance in airlifting materials for Saturday’s by-elections. Abubakar made this demand during a visit by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, seeking NAF’s support for the February 3 rerun and by-elections.
INEC is set to conduct by-elections and re-runs in 26 states this Saturday, filling vacancies in various legislative positions. The INEC Chairman acknowledged the massive task of deploying election materials and sought the air force’s support in delivering them to three locations in the North-East, South-East, and South-West zones.
Yakubu emphasized the need for national collaboration, citing legal provisions allowing the commission to seek support from security agencies for material delivery and personnel protection. The elections will involve numerous constituencies, polling units, and registered voters, and the support of NAF is crucial for efficient logistics.
Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar reaffirmed NAF’s commitment as a reliable partner for INEC, providing security and facilitating rapid airlift and distribution of electoral materials. He mentioned ongoing maintenance for C-130s but assured alternative aircraft availability, with the caveat of requiring early material movement due to airplane capacity limitations. Additionally, Abubakar reminded the chairman of outstanding bills from INEC, emphasizing their settlement for improved service delivery.
