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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Ojo Amupitan, has urged the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Kelvin Aneke, to deploy the air power of the elite force to serve as a psychological weapon during the forthcoming elections this year and next.
Amupitan made the appeal when he received the Air Chief, who paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him: “We are confident that with your continued partnership and support, you can ensure a secure and orderly environment for our citizens to exercise their democratic rights. I am happy that the Nigerian Air Force is an elite force, and of course, the joy about the air power is that it is a psychological weapon, and of which the Nigerian Air Force has come of age.”
“And the Air Force is lucky to also have somebody of your caliber to be able to lead Nigeria to the United Nations,” he said.
While making further appeals, the electoral umpire boss said: “Therefore, I want to once again appreciate you and your team for the support you gave us recently during the Anambra election in November 2025, as well as the FCT election that took place just last month, as well as the by-elections in Ahuada and Kana, the State Constituency of River States, as well as the Kano Municipal.”
“At very short notice, you were able to deliver. And even when we had some little issues, you came on time to ensure that there was no any logistic losses. Let me say that in the month of June, coming very soon, we shall be conducting the off-cycle governorship election in the Ekiti States.
“And this will be followed by another off-cycle election in Osun State in August 15th of this year. Those elections to us are very important and very crucial because of its proximity to the general election.
“And so we have listened carefully to what you said about logistic. I am a poster of military logistic, and I know what the Air Force can do, most especially in the area of penetrating areas that we feel their challenge in terms of location.
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“So we are quite happy, and that was why I said it’s a great sign of relief for us, that thinking that we are going to be the one to beat you to it, to come and lay our cards and chatter some demands. And I have always said this, that an election can only be as good as a logistic. So, given the fact that we have always encountered logistic problems, it has dawned on me that maybe INEC has not properly exploited this great potential we have in the military logistic.
“And I am happy that this private discussion I had with you this morning, where you were able to also bring out clearly some of those rudiments of the logistics. During worst situations, emergencies, the logistics are suspecting, providing the basic necessities in terms of food, water, and medicals, even for those people at the forefront.
“And so, there is something in the military they call mopping exercise too. After the whole thing you are mopping up, you are also very effective in ensuring that delivery,” he said.
The electoral umpire boss specifically pleaded with the Air Chief: “We will be glad to work with you and see how we can overcome some of the challenges we have had during the logistic. Like the FCT election, as much as we try to put everything together to ensure even that we have 100 per cent commencement of the coup, by the advocacy time of age 30, we still cannot achieve our targets.
“But one good thing we can do is if we are able to achieve that during the election, and also the general elections so that we are able to deploy on time, that would be great. Work with the unions, the road transport workers, but sometimes we are faced with challenges,” he said.
Earlier, the Air Chief said: “The successful conduct of elections is closely tied to effective security arrangements and efficient logistics management. Over the years, the Nigerian Air Force has remained a dependable partner to INEC, particularly in providing security support as well as rapid airlift for the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials across the country.
“I wish to assure you that the Nigerian Air Force remains willing, able, and ready to continue providing such support whenever required. At present, some of our C-130 aircraft are undergoing scheduled maintenance outside the country as part of efforts to sustain our strategic airlift capability. Nevertheless, the Service is making arrangements to deploy other available aircraft that can support the timely movement of electoral materials and personnel.
“Beyond airlift support, the Nigerian Air Force, as a professional and apolitical institution, is also making preparations to contribute to the security of the electoral process in other ways. In this regard, the NAF is positioning some of its Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to enhance situational awareness during the electoral period.
“Such capabilities could assist in the early detection of potential security threats and support timely responses by relevant agencies,” he said.
