The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it is reviewing its transport logistics model for effective performance ahead of the 2027 elections.
It said the decision became imperative after its Election Operations Dashboard during the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils election showed that only 45 per cent of polling units opened by 8:30 am.
It added that the transporter that caused some delay in Kwali Area Council would also be blacklisted.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan stated this on Wednesday in Abuja at the meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), and swearing in of the new REC, Dr. Chukwu Chukwu-Emeka Joseph, representing Abia State.
The electoral umpire also revealed that it has identified some of the staff in Kuje Area Council and Kabusa Ward in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) that caused logistic delay and be queried
He noted that the recently conducted FCT Area Council election and the State Constituencies elections in Kano and Rivers States once again provided them with lessons, some reassuring, others sobering.
He stated: “This tells us something important. Our policies may be sound. Our intentions may be noble. But if citizens do not understand our processes, then the objective is only half achieved.
“I, therefore, direct all Resident Electoral Commissioners to intensify voter education and sensitisation in your respective states. Voter awareness must not be episodic. It must be continuous.”
Amupitan said another area that requires frank discussion was logistics and punctuality.
His words: “According to our Election Operations Dashboard, only 45 per cent of polling units in the FCT opened by 8:30 am. Although we achieved 100 per cent by 10:00 am, the initial delay is unacceptable.
“We have identified some of the staff in Kuje Area Council and Kabusa Ward in the Municipal that caused logistic delay and I have directed that they should be queried.
“In addition, the transporter that caused some delay in Kwali Area Council will be blacklisted. We are still reviewing our transport logistics model for effective performance. On the whole, voting took place in all the polling units despite the initial delay and the election was successfully concluded in all the polling units.
“We commend the generally peaceful conduct of the FCT election in all the polling units and in Kano and Rivers State constituencies. No violence was recorded during the voting exercise. We commend the security agencies for this feat.
“However, we must admit the ugly incident that occurred in Kuje Area Council, where the Kuje Central Collation Centre was invaded by thugs during collation and also at another Collation centre in Kwali Area Council.
“The ugly incident was squarely addressed, and the results were finally collated without much ado. You must continue to strengthen our engagement with security agencies and stakeholders in your state. Elections must be peaceful, not by accident, but by deliberate planning and coordination.”