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By Tracy Moses
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has highlighted the crucial role of transport logistics in the conduct of elections, urging transport unions to fully commit to their duties ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council Election scheduled for February 21, 2026.
In a meeting with leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria on Tuesday, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) said the commission’s long-standing collaboration with the unions is essential for credible electoral outcomes.
“The unions are key players in the electoral process, and their responsibility is to support free, fair, and credible elections through the timely and reliable provision of vehicles and drivers,” he said. “The quality of an election is directly tied to the effectiveness of its logistics.”
Amupitan noted that similar consultations are being held in other states, including Rivers and Kano, ahead of by-elections scheduled for this Saturday. He, however, expressed concern over past logistical lapses, particularly during the Anambra State election, which he described as almost disastrous due to poor vehicle conditions and operational inefficiencies.
“During the last Anambra election, many vehicles provided by the unions to transport sensitive materials from Enugu to Awka were faulty,” he said. “This forced the commission to step in directly and, in some cases, source additional transport from outside the state.”
For the upcoming FCT council election, INEC plans to engage approximately 1,132 vehicles from the unions, highlighting the scale of the exercise, which will see about 570 candidates contesting for chairmanship, vice-chairmanship, and councillorship positions across the six area councils.
The commission stressed that, constitutionally, the FCT holds the status of a state, making efficient logistics critical to a successful election.
“An election can only succeed if both sensitive and non-sensitive materials reach polling units on time, as polling units are the backbone of the voting process,” Amupitan explained.
He further emphasized the need for early vehicle deployment to Registration Area Centres (RACs) to ensure smooth distribution of materials on election day.
Responding, NURTW Director of Legal, Mercy Ibeh, acknowledged past challenges and noted that they have been addressed through continuous dialogue with INEC and FCT council officials. She called for support to enhance the union’s logistical capacity, saying, “It would help if the federal government could assist us with better vehicles, as we need serviceable ones to deliver efficiently.”
Similarly, NURTW FCT Chairman, Abdullahi Dauda, assured INEC of the union’s commitment to smooth transportation during the polls. “We have held extensive discussions with the REC about the challenges we face and have agreed on practical solutions,” he said. “With the arrangements we have in place, I am confident that the FCT election will be conducted differently and more efficiently.”