Six political parties in Oyo state have kicked against plans by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the state to use buses belonging to members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW to transport election materials to polling units in the forthcoming general elections.
The Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Rufus Akeju, had said in a statement that a total of 27,000 buses would be used by INEC for the transportation of its officers and the materials at a meeting with the chairmen of the various political parties in the state.
According to him, Akeju said the decision was arrived at by the commission at the national level because of the huge number of vehicles needed throughout the period of the elections, adding that the parties could object to the decision through a letter to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
However, The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Accord Party, AP, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Labour Party, LP and the African People’s Alliance Party, rejected the move.
The parties that rejected the move in separate letters, said making use of NURTW buses and members would erase the confidence that the people had in INEC to conduct credible elections, noting that NURTW in the state had always been an ally of the All Progressives Congress-led government in Oyo State.
“Let us reiterate that we are not averse to the use of NURTW in some states where such will be appropriate, but definitely not in Oyo State. We are looking forward to an election that will take place in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity,” the parties stated.
The Oyo REC nonetheless defended INEC, saying the electoral body had put in place necessary instruments to ensure that none of the engaged drivers was partisan.
He said: “We are checking the background of the drivers that will work with us and no one with criminal record will be allowed. We know what we are doing but we are sure that they can be reformed. We are targeting the positives in the alliance.”
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