There are numerous administration activities that will start in parallel with the preceding phases – so that come election day everything is in order and voting can occur safely, securely and with the involvement of everyone who is entitled and motivated to vote.

This is a significant operation that requires timely planning, tight co-ordination and strong management. It involves the movement of equipment across regions, rural and urban. It requires the establishment of secure polling stations and the provision of information so that everyone knows where they go to vote. It depends on the availability of ballot papers and skilled people to manage the process.

Everything has to be tested and have contingency in place. Third parties have to be selected wisely and their contribution managed. Problems have to be anticipated so that there are fallback plans and reactions must be swift when those plans are called on. 

---

“The impartiality, independence and effectiveness of election administrators are critical to a credible and democratic electoral process. Actions taken by INEC in the leadup to the elections generated concerns over INEC’s preparedness, independence and impartiality, and prospects for a transparent process. INEC did not begin publicising details of how polling would be organised until April 8.Prior to this, INEC officials made contradictory statements about whether voting would be a day-long process or would follow the “June 12 formula,” with initial accreditation and returning to vote at a specific, limited time.

“The convergence of INEC’s partisanship, operational incompetence and the self inflicted 11th hour crisis (caused by INEC’s insistence on disqualifying Vice-President Abubakar and the Supreme Court’s decision on 16th April ordering that he be returned to" the ballot) turned logistics to a nightmare."