The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has airlifted sensitive electoral materials for the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election and a series of senatorial and federal constituency by-elections scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026. This operation aligns with NAF's commitment to supporting democratic governance through Aid to Civil Authority operations.
Airlift Operation Details
The airlift operation, conducted between June 15 and 16, 2026, was undertaken at the request of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to facilitate the security and timely movement of sensitive electoral materials from Abuja to designated locations across the country. In a statement, NAF’s Spokesman, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the Service leveraged its strategic airlift capabilities to transport the sensitive electoral materials from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to designated airports in Enugu, Rivers and Kano states, ensuring that INEC receives the materials within the stipulated timeline ahead of the elections.
Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, commended the professionalism and dedication of NAF personnel involved in the operation. He noted that the successful airlift underscores the Service’s unwavering commitment to supporting democratic institutions and national development. Aneke reaffirmed the NAF’s readiness to continue to provide timely and effective support to civil authorities in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.
Ondo South By-election Preparations
Relatedly, INEC has commenced the distribution of sensitive election materials for the Ondo South Senatorial District by-election ahead of the Saturday polls. The exercise was conducted under the supervision of electoral officials, security agencies, and representatives of participating political parties. Ballot papers, result sheets, and other sensitive materials were deployed to designated locations across the senatorial district. The by-election became imperative following the appointment of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ondo State, Mutiu Agboke, while speaking at the distribution exercise held within the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Akure, confirmed that all logistics arrangements for the smooth conduct of the exercise had been finalised.
Stakeholders Call for Electronic Transmission
Meanwhile, stakeholders of Nigeria’s electoral process have urged INEC to ensure strict compliance with the electronic transmission of election results as a critical test of the reforms introduced under the new Electoral Act. The call was made during a multi-stakeholder roundtable on legal compliance and electoral integrity organised by the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) and The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD) held in Ado-Ekiti.
Participants at the forum stressed that the Ekiti governorship election, the first major polls to be conducted under the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act, presents an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and accountability through the seamless electronic transmission of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Executive Director of NIGAWD and South-West Coordinator of YERP-Naija, Abimbola Aladejare-Salako, said the election would serve as a litmus test for the implementation of electoral reforms championed by youth groups and civil society organisations following concerns raised over the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
In a goodwill message, Programme Director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Bem Aga, commended YERP-Naija and its civil society partners for their sustained advocacy that culminated in the passage of the 2026 Electoral Act. Aga said NDI was proud to support the Youth Electoral Reform Project, noting that NIGAWD serves as the South-West secretariat of the initiative. He described citizen participation and credible elections as two fundamental pillars of democracy and expressed satisfaction that youth-focused organisations had moved beyond advocacy to monitoring the implementation of the reforms they championed.
Concerns Over Implementation
However, stakeholders at the roundtable specifically called on INEC to provide clear guidelines on the implementation of Section 60 (3) of the Electoral Act, which makes electronic transmission mandatory while also providing alternative procedures where communication networks fail. They expressed concerns that the exception clause could be abused if adequate safeguards are not established and demanded assurances that any alternative process would be transparent, verifiable and subject to public scrutiny.
The forum also urged INEC to clarify the implementation of Section 18 (1) of the Electoral Act, which provides for downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for voters whose cards have been lost or damaged ahead of the election.
