Osun Poll: INEC Warns Transport Unions, Election Officials Against Partisanship

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned transport unions and election officials participating in the August 15 Osun State governorship election to remain politically neutral, saying any act capable of undermining the credibility of the exercise will not be tolerated.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the warning on Friday during a series of pre-election engagements in Osogbo, where he met transport union leaders, paid a courtesy visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo and addressed Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) undergoing training.

Addressing transport union representatives, Amupitan stressed that vehicles engaged by the commission for election duty would operate strictly under INEC’s control and must not be used to promote the interests of any political party.

He said reports of transport union members displaying political campaign materials or openly identifying with political parties during previous elections were unacceptable.

“The moment we engage you for the purpose of this election, we are supposed to own your fleet and therefore use it in accordance with our regulations. We are not supposed to take sides with anyone,” he said.

The INEC chairman said the commission had fixed voting to begin at 8:30 a.m. on election day, adding that Registration Area Centres (RACs) would be activated by noon on August 14.

He said vehicles were expected to arrive before then to convey election personnel, sensitive materials and security officers to polling units across the state.

According to him, INEC has introduced a real-time monitoring dashboard that will track the opening of polling units nationwide, warning that excuses such as vehicle breakdowns or driver absenteeism would no longer be accepted.

Amupitan said the commission would deploy logistics across Osun’s 30 local government areas, covering 322 registration areas and 3,763 polling units, noting that experienced drivers familiar with the terrain would be required.

Responding on behalf of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the union’s National Head of Organisation, Olayioye Adesina, assured INEC that adequate arrangements had been made to ensure smooth transportation throughout the election.

He disclosed that the union’s National Executive had taken over coordination of the Osun assignment from the state council to eliminate any perception of partisan interference arising from its internal leadership dispute.

Adesina also assured the commission that only roadworthy vehicles, inspected in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), would be deployed, adding that no branded or politically identified vehicles would be used.

During a courtesy visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanikpekun, the INEC chairman said no political office was worth the loss of any citizen’s life.

He disclosed that the commission had engaged the police, the Minister of Defence and the service chiefs to ensure adequate security before, during and after the election.

“No Osun citizen’s blood is worth this election,” Amupitan said, urging the monarch to mobilise political actors and residents to embrace peace.

He described the Osun governorship election as the last major off-cycle poll before the 2027 general election, saying its outcome would be closely watched as a measure of the country’s electoral preparedness.

The INEC chairman also revealed that the commission extended the deadline for Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection after fewer than 70 per cent of registered voters collected their cards.

He said Osun currently has more than 2.3 million registered voters and announced that a mock accreditation exercise would be conducted in selected local government areas across the state’s three senatorial districts to test election technology ahead of the poll.

Amupitan warned against the spread of misinformation, particularly recycled videos of past election violence circulated on social media to discourage voter turnout.

He assured residents that adequate measures had been put in place to safeguard election personnel, facilities, materials and voters.

Responding, the Ataoja commended INEC for engaging traditional rulers and pledged the support of the traditional institution towards ensuring a peaceful election.

The monarch also urged the electoral commission to provide a level playing field for all contestants.

At the final leg of his visit, Amupitan charged Supervisory Presiding Officers to resist pressure from politicians and ensure the timely deployment of election materials.

He warned that election materials must neither be delayed nor diverted, stressing that polling officials should strictly comply with INEC’s operational guidelines.

“No delay of materials on your part, no diversion of materials, and please don’t allow politicians to use you,” he told the officials.

The INEC chairman said public confidence in the Osun governorship election would depend largely on the professionalism of the officials, adding that outstanding SPOs would be recognised after the exercise.