By Mercy Peter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday entered into fresh agreements with major transport unions to guarantee seamless movement of election materials ahead of the forthcoming forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections,
The Commission stressed the importance of the agreements, saying efficient transport logistics will determine the success or failure of the election.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, the Commission underscored the critical role of transport providers in ensuring the timely deployment of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to polling units across the FCT.
The meeting brought together leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission, representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), alongside FCT administrative officials and electoral officers.
The Commission apologised for the delayed commencement of the meeting, attributing it to earlier engagements with FCT officials and pressing national assignments. It, however, expressed appreciation to the unions for honouring the invitation and reaffirmed their longstanding partnership with INEC, particularly in the area of election logistics.
INEC disclosed that it plans to hire approximately 1,132 vehicles from the unions to service the election, which involves about 570 candidates contesting chairmanship and vice-chairmanship positions, alongside dozens of councillorship seats. Voting is expected to take place across 2,822 polling units spread through the six area councils of the FCT.
Describing the exercise as comparable to a full-scale state election, the Commission noted that under the Constitution, the FCT holds a status similar to that of a state in electoral matters.
The scale of operations, officials said, demands meticulous coordination and early deployment of vehicles to Registration Area Centres (RACs) to guarantee that materials arrive at polling units before accreditation and voting begin.
He stressed that,“Our target is for elections to commence at 8 a.m. That means materials must reach polling units by 7 or 7:30 a.m., and departure from RACs must be no later than 6 or 6:30 a.m., depending on location,” the Commission stated.
INEC cited challenges experienced during the last governorship election in Anambra State as a cautionary example. According to officials, some vehicles supplied for transporting sensitive materials from Enugu to Awka were reportedly unserviceable, forcing last-minute adjustments and reliance on alternative arrangements from other states.
The Commission said that deviations from agreed terms in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), including the “farming out” of contracted vehicles to third parties, nearly jeopardised operations during that election.
He also said “This time around, we do not want excuses whether genuine, non-deliberate, or deliberate,” the Commission warned, emphasising that sound, roadworthy vehicles in line with agreed specifications must be deployed early and remain on standby at the RACs ahead of Election Day.
INEC tasked Electoral Officers in the FCT to monitor deployments closely and ensure that agreements reached at the national level are fully implemented at area council level. The officers were described as the “eyes of the Commission” in guaranteeing compliance with logistics arrangements.
The Commission further called on the unions to view their participation not merely as a contractual engagement, but as a patriotic duty central to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy. It warned against any recurrence of incidents such as the hijacking or diversion of materials, stressing that the FCT, as the nation’s capital, would be under intense scrutiny from both domestic and international observers.
He said “The Federal Capital Territory is the heart of Nigeria. The eyes of the world will be on us,” officials said, urging all stakeholders to contribute to a free, fair, and credible process.
Union representatives reportedly reaffirmed their commitment to the partnership and pledged to ensure discipline among their members, including enforcing internal ethics mechanisms to sanction erring drivers or contractors.
The Commission concluded by assuring participants that it remains open to addressing concerns and strengthening collaboration, as preparations intensify for what it described as a crucial test of electoral logistics and institutional coordination in the nation’s capital.
