FCT Election: INEC Moves To Avert Operational Setbacks

The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC says it will not tolerate excuses that could undermine credible conduct of this Saturday FCT Area Council election.

INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan who gave the warning during a meeting with leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers NURTW and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners NARTO in Abuja said the success of the election would depend largely on the timely and efficient movement of materials and personnel across the six Area Councils of the Territory

“ The Commission expects sound and serviceable vehicles in line with agreed specifications under the Memorandum of Understanding MoU with the unions”

According to the INEC chairman, the Commission will engage about 1,132 vehicles to support the movement of election materials for the election, which will involve 2,822 polling units spread across 10 wards in five Area Councils and 12 wards in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

Prof. Amupitan expressed concern over past experiences in the deployment of vehicles during elections, citing instances where unserviceable vehicles were presented and agreed arrangements were not fully honoured.

In one case, he noted, the Commission had to activate alternative arrangements to avert operational setbacks.

He made it clear that INEC would not accept excuses, whether deliberate or inadvertent, that could jeopardize the timely delivery of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to Registration Area Centres (RACs) and polling units.

“Our target is for voting to commence at 8.30am and for that to happen, materials must arrive at polling units by 7.00 or 7.30am, which means vehicles must depart Registration Area Centers as early as 6.00am.”

The Chairman also directed Electoral Officers in the FCT to closely supervise the implementation of logistics agreements at the Area Council level, noting that they would serve as the Commission’s eyes in ensuring compliance.

Emphasising the national and international attention on the election, Prof. Amupitan described the FCT as “the heart of Nigeria,” adding that all stakeholders must demonstrate patriotism and commitment to safeguarding electoral materials.

He urged the unions to deploy their internal disciplinary mechanisms to ensure that members adhere strictly to the Commission’s guidelines, particularly in preventing incidents such as diversion or hijacking of materials.

In her response, Director, Legal Services of NURTW, Mercy Ibeh, acknowledged that the issues raised by the Commission were familiar and regularly, forms part of engagements between the unions and electoral authorities.

According to her, the union had, over several months, engaged extensively with the FCT office of the Commission to identify challenges and propose workable solutions.

While referring to previous operational difficulties experienced during the Anambra election, she stated that the union had formally communicated its concerns to INEC at the time, adding that some of the challenges encountered were beyond the union’s control.

She expressed optimism that with the issues discussed and solutions proffered during the current engagement, many of the earlier challenges would be addressed going forward.

She also appealed for support towards strengthening the transport capacity of the union, noting that improved access to serviceable vehicles would enhance performance during elections.

Also speaking, FCT Chairman of NURTW, Abdullahi Dauda, assured the Commission of the union’s commitment to delivering on its obligations.

Kayode Oyedare, Edited By Grace Namiji