Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general elections have entered another operational phase, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) beginning the configuration of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
The commission has also commenced transporting non-sensitive election materials to different parts of the country with assistance from the Nigerian Air Force.
INEC’s Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed both developments in an interview with Sunday PUNCH.
“The BVAS are already being configured. It takes a while to configure them, so we have to start early,” Mohammed said.
The early preparation is intended to give the commission sufficient time to complete the technical process before election day.
The BVAS is an electronic device used to verify voters’ identities through fingerprint or facial recognition during accreditation.
It also supports the electronic transmission of polling-unit results through INEC’s election management infrastructure.
Election Logistics Gather Momentum
Mohammed disclosed that the distribution of non-sensitive election materials was already underway, with military aircraft assisting the transportation exercise.
“The distribution of the non-sensitive materials for the 2027 election is already on. As we speak, Air Force jets are currently deploying materials to states,” he said.
Non-sensitive materials include election-related items that can be distributed ahead of polling day without compromising the security of sensitive electoral equipment.
The involvement of the Nigerian Air Force provides logistical support for moving materials across the country, particularly where transportation challenges could affect delivery schedules.
The latest development follows an earlier announcement by INEC National Commissioner, Professor Rhoda Gumus, that the commission had started moving materials to some geopolitical zones.
Gumus disclosed this during a meeting with a delegation from Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission in Abuja.
She explained that INEC had assessed its preparedness across the six geopolitical zones to identify logistical difficulties and areas requiring attention.
“We have six zones in Nigeria. The purpose is to go around the zones to see how prepared we are, assess what the zones have put in place, the challenges and what to do,” she said.
What Happens Before Election Day?
INEC’s reported timetable schedules the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027.
The governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
The commission therefore faces several months of technical, administrative and logistical preparations before Nigerians head to polling stations.
These preparations include equipment configuration, movement of election materials, personnel arrangements and coordination with relevant security agencies.
However, early preparation does not automatically guarantee a successful election.
The commission will still need to ensure that the BVAS machines function properly, materials reach their destinations and electoral officials receive adequate training.
The latest developments indicate that INEC has started addressing some of these operational requirements ahead of the 2027 elections.
