From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
As the Ekiti State governorship election approaches, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned transport operators in the state, under the auspices of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), against sabotaging efforts to conduct a credible, free, and fair election scheduled for June 20.
This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja, where the National Commissioners of the Commission, led by Prof. Sani Adams, gave the warning on Thursday.
He further cautioned that any transporter found sabotaging the Commission’s efforts would be arrested and prosecuted for breach of contract.
He frowned at previous attempts by transporters to hold the commission to ransom over logistics arrangements, appealing to the union to ensure they fulfill their obligations by providing the required number of vehicles, while also ensuring that drivers are duly paid for their services.
“This is a contract between Nigerians and your union. It is not about INEC. The entire world is watching. Please do not bring vehicles that do not meet specifications.
“If you have to rent vehicles, bring those in good condition and ensure drivers are paid. We do not want a situation where drivers will hold us to ransom on election day, insisting on being paid before moving,” he said.
He also stressed that reverse logistics is part of the contract, explaining that after transporting personnel and materials to the field, vehicles are expected to return them to the office and not abandon them in the field.
Speaking further, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, expressed concern over the friction between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), warning that such disagreements could affect the integrity of the elections in Ekiti State.
He told both unions that they must work together in the interest of the election, stressing that transport logistics remain a critical factor in the success of any electoral process.
According to him, while the Commission does not own sufficient vehicles to meet election demands, it relies on transport unions due to their wide reach.
He urged them not to collect money for vehicles they cannot provide, adding that logistics arrangements must be properly planned to avoid last-minute disruptions, citing previous challenges experienced during elections such as in Anambra State.
He noted that international and local observers often visit only a limited number of polling units and base their assessments on what they observe there, warning that negative impressions must be avoided.
“We must not give them anything negative to report about the elections. Let them look for it and not find it. Tell us what you can do and what you cannot do. Do not lie to us,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Organisation and Industrial Relations at the NURTW headquarters in Abuja, Olayioye Adesina, told the Commission that the disagreement between NURTW and NARTO arose because NARTO has no vehicles in Ekiti and should not be involved in election logistics.
He said any failure on the part of NARTO would be blamed on NURTW, hence their position that although they are part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), NARTO should not participate in the election logistics.
He assured the Commission that his union would deliver on its agreement in the overall interest of the election and the country.