Osun Guber: INEC unaware of NURTW factions — REC, Babalola

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osun State has said it is not aware of any faction within the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in the state as it prepares logistics for the August 15 governorship election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, made the clarification during a town hall meeting organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity in Osogbo on Sunday.

Babalola explained that the commission works directly with the national leadership of the NURTW on election logistics rather than state chapters, noting that the arrangement is guided by an existing Memorandum of Understanding between both parties.

According to her, “INEC has maintained communication with representatives of the union’s national leadership and has not received any information suggesting the existence of factions within the organisation.

“For the transportation of our materials and personnel, we rely on the NURTW and NARTO. The national leadership has an MOU with the Commission, and we have been communicating with a representative of the national leadership. We’re not aware of any factionalisation.”

She disclosed that the commission had already conducted training sessions for transport providers across all local government areas in Osun State as part of preparations for the election.

The REC added that INEC would inspect vehicles to be deployed for election duties on the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding the governorship poll to ensure they meet the standards required under the agreement with the transport unions.

“Part of the MOU is that they must provide us with good vehicles, and we have scheduled the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding the election to inspect those vehicles,” she added.

The clarification comes amid a leadership dispute within the Osun State chapter of the NURTW, where the national leadership recently constituted a new caretaker committee following disagreements within the state branch.

INEC has continued preparations for the August governorship election, with the commission stating that its logistics arrangements remain coordinated through the national leadership of the NURTW and the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, despite developments within the state chapter.