The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has advised Supervisory Presiding Officers (SPOs) and transport unions against partisanship.
It asked them to oversee the timely deployment of workers and election materials throughout the state.
The warning comes ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Prof. Joash Amupitan, the INEC Chairman, made the directions on Friday at separate engagements in Osogbo as part of his preparedness assessment visit for the off-cycle governorship election.
Addressing transport union officials at the INEC State Office, Amupitan stated that the Commission expected perfect neutrality from all transportation providers involved in the poll, emphasising that vehicles hired for the event would operate strictly under INEC supervision.
He stated that the commission entrusted the unions with election logistics due to their operational capacity, but warned that any expression of political loyalty by drivers or transport operators would not be accepted during the electoral process.
“Once we employ you for the purpose of this election, we are supposed to own your fleet and operate it in accordance with our regulations.
“We are not supposed to take sides with anyone,” Amupitan stated.
The INEC Chairman further highlighted the need of timely logistics, instructing that cars be available before Registration Area Centres (RACs) open at midday on election day.
He stated that election officials and materials must arrive at polling stations by 7.30 a.m. to allow voting to begin at 8.30 a.m. as planned.
According to him, the Commission has implemented a real-time monitoring dashboard to follow the opening of polling stations across the country, emphasising that delays due to vehicle breakdowns or driver unavailability will not be acceptable.
He noted that Osun’s 30 local government areas, 322 registration areas, and 3,763 polling units would necessitate effective logistics, especially in challenging terrain.
While addressing Supervisory Presiding Officers undergoing training at Ataoja School of Science in Osogbo, the INEC Chairman urged them not to jeopardise the integrity of the electoral process by giving in to political pressure.
He directed the personnel to rigorously follow the Commission’s operational guidelines, emphasising that election materials should not be delayed, misdirected, or delivered in installments during the exercise.
“No delay of materials on your part, no diversion of materials, and please don’t allow politicians to use you,” Amupitan warned the trainees that the Osun governorship race would be the last off-cycle election before the general elections in 2027, and that it would draw national attention.
Responding on behalf of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Olayioye Adesina, the union’s Head of Organisation, told INEC that enough steps had been put in place to ensure seamless logistics during the election, notwithstanding the union’s internal leadership disagreements.
Adesina stated that the union’s National Executive has taken on the job of coordinating the Osun assignment to avoid claims of factional influence.