Anambra 2025: KDI Warns against Partisan Role of Transport Union

Anambra 2025: KDI Warns against Partisan Role of Transport Union

…Late training of ad-hoc staff raises concern over INEC’s readiness

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has warned against the partisan involvement of transport unions in Saturday’s Anambra State governorship election, describing their open endorsement of the incumbent governor as a serious threat to electoral neutrality and logistics integrity.

In a pre-election statement signed by the Executive Director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, in Awka on Friday, he said the endorsement by the Joint Transporter Forum, comprising the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Keke, Okada and Bus Unions — “raises a significant logistical red flag.”

According to him in the statement made available to National Periscope, “Since INEC relies heavily on these unions for material transportation, their partisan alignment could undermine perceptions of neutrality, risk delays, and erode public confidence in the process.”

Idowu stressed that the neutrality of critical stakeholders such as transport unions was essential to maintaining the credibility of the electoral process.

“The credibility of the process will depend on timely deployment, transparent procedures, and restraint by political actors and their supporters,” he noted.

On the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), KDI said while the Commission had shown logistical readiness, it was concerned about the lateness in the training of ad-hoc officials, which concluded just two days before the election.

“Our comparative analysis of INEC’s preparedness for the 2025 Anambra Governorship Election against the 2024 Ondo Off-Cycle Election reveals a mixed outlook.

The training of ad-hoc officials was completed on November 6, leaving no room for mock drills or refresher sessions to evaluate competence or replace unfit staff ahead of election day,” Idowu said.

Nevertheless, KDI commended INEC’s continuous stakeholder engagement and its sustained improvements in technology use, especially through the BVAS and IReV platforms, which it said remain positive indicators that can enhance credibility if effectively managed.

The organisation also raised concerns over potential flashpoints, identifying Aguata and Ihiala as severe-risk areas, while Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ogbaru were listed as high-risk local government areas.

KDI urged security agencies to maintain professionalism and neutrality, ensuring that their presence is visible but non-intimidating, with emphasis on timely intelligence sharing and rapid response coordination.

While expressing optimism for a peaceful process, Idowu called on voters to come out peacefully, exercise their civic rights, and resist any attempt to disrupt the process or sell their votes.

He reaffirmed KDI’s commitment to real-time monitoring of the election through its Nigeria Election Violence Education and Resolution (NEVER) project, with a mid-day update and post-election statement expected after the polls.

“Together, let us safeguard the integrity of the 2025 Anambra governorship election and strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s democracy,” Idowu concluded.