CLOSE-UP: This is Ahmad Mu’azu, the man in charge of INEC logistics

There has been a lot of confusion on who actually is in charge of the logistics at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) since the chaos that resulted in the rescheduling of the general election.

Initially, the social media was buzzing with the news that it was Amina Zakari, the national commissioner who was in the news for being related to President Muhammadu Buhari by marriage. Some commented that she sabotaged the election because Buhari was going to lose. However, Zakari left the role in October 2018 when she was redeployed to oversee the health and welfare committee.

Not long after the Zakari rumour died down, word started going round that Okechukwu Ibeanu, a professor of political science and national commissioner in charge of electoral operations and logistics, was the man responsible for the chaos. It was implied that he was working for Atiku Abubakar, Buhari’s main challenger.

Meanwhile, there is yet another committee on logistics for the elections. Headed by Ahmad Tijani Mu’azu, a retired air vice marshal, the ad hoc committee is made up of three national commissioners and representatives from several government agencies, notably customs, immigration, road safety commission,police and armed forces.

What is the difference between the committee headed by Ibeanu and that of Mu’azu — since both deal with logistics? TheCable findings show that the one led by Ibeanu is a standing committee, which is “internal”. It deals with providing ballot papers, ballot boxes and other materials for the elections.

The ad hoc committee headed by Mu’azu, which is “external”, is specifically for the elections and the brief is to receive materials at the airports and send them to the different locations across the country. It is “external” because it is composed mainly of non-INEC members.

In November 2018 when Yakubu announced that Zakari would head the ad hoc committee on collation centre, all eyes were on her and her relationship with Buhari. On the same day, however, Mu’azu was announced as the chairman of the ad hoc committee on logistics. This went virtually unnoticed. Yet, it was perhaps the most important of the committees inaugurated on January 3, 2019.

Who, then, is Ahmad Tijani Mu’azu?

According to his profile on the INEC website, he was born on September 6, 1957 in Gombe state. He schooled in Gombe, Kaduna and Maiduguri between 1964 and 1975.

In June 1976, he joined the Nigerian air force as a potential pilot and was commissioned pilot officer into air traffic control specialty in 1979.

He holds both civil and military licences with ratings in aerodrome, approach control and approach radar control positions. He was deployed to air traffic control duties for 12 years, from 1979 to 1991, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.