INEC boss warns transport unions to stay neutral ahead of Osun election

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has warned transport unions that the commission will not compromise its logistics agreements or tolerate political bias during the 15 August Osun State governorship election.

Speaking on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Osogbo, Professor Amupitan stressed that drivers contracted to transport election personnel and sensitive materials represent INEC on polling day and must remain strictly neutral.

“We will not, and I emphasize, we will not compromise our transport logistics framework,” Amupitan declared. “Those vehicles that will be partaking in the distribution of personnel and materials… must not support any political party.”

Strategic push for early voting

To ensure voting starts promptly at 8:30 am across all 3,763 polling units, INEC has activated 97 “Super” Registration Area Centres (RACs) and 105 standard RACs across the state.

Personnel, security officials, and materials will be deployed to the RACs on Friday, 14 August—the day before the election—with staff remaining on-site overnight to guarantee early opening on Saturday morning.

To motivate staff, the INEC chairman introduced an incentive scheme promising rewards for Electoral Officers whose local government areas achieve a 100 per cent 8:30 am start time, noting that late-night voting increases the risk of electoral malpractice.

14 political parties cleared for contest

Fourteen political parties will field candidates in the Osun governorship election, including the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Assuring the public of the commission’s readiness, Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Oluwatoyin Babalola stated that every detail was being configured to ensure seamless logistics and boost public trust.

“Osun State must set the standard,” Babalola said. “Every decision we make, every detail we configure… will shape public trust in Nigeria’s democratic process.”