The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured residents of Osun State that logistics for the August 15, 2026 governorship election will not be disrupted by the leadership crisis within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state.
Speaking on Sunday at a town hall meeting organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity in Osogbo, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the Commission is coordinating directly with the national leadership of the NURTW to guarantee the smooth movement of election personnel and materials.
Babalola explained that INEC has deliberately avoided involvement in any of the factions operating within the Osun chapter of the transport union, insisting that all official engagements are being handled through representatives of the union’s national body.
According to her, the Commission has received assurances from the national leadership that transportation arrangements for the governorship election will proceed without any hindrance.
“Regarding the issues that are happening within the parks, I have not been informed of any faction introduced. We have been working with a specific body,” she said.
“There is a representative of the national body that we are speaking with. We are not speaking with any faction, and they are giving us assurance that we are not going to have any problem.”
The REC described transportation as one of the most critical components of election management, stressing that even the best election plans could fail if logistics are compromised.
She disclosed that INEC has existing Memoranda of Understanding with both the NURTW and the Marine Workers Union to provide transportation services during elections.
According to Babalola, the Commission has held several meetings with the unions’ national leadership to emphasise the need for prompt deployment of vehicles, professionalism, neutrality and the provision of roadworthy vehicles throughout the electoral process.
“Transportation is a critical aspect of election logistics because no matter how well planned an election is, when transportation fails, the election has failed. It is these transporters who move men and materials to the local governments, registration areas and polling units,” she stated.
Babalola maintained that internal disputes within the Osun chapter of the NURTW would not affect the Commission’s preparations.
“Whatever problem they have internally is their problem, but as regards the engagement with INEC for the movement of men and materials, we are not envisaging any problem because we are dealing with the national body,” she added.
Also addressing participants at the town hall meeting, the Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, Oba Moses Agunsoye, and the Akire of Ikire-Ile, Oba AbdulAzeez Olatunbosun, appealed to eligible voters to reject vote buying during the election.
The traditional rulers also urged political actors to conduct their campaigns peacefully, warning that no political ambition should result in violence or the loss of human lives.
