By Jason Obi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a strong warning to transport unions ahead of the February 21, 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, declaring that the credibility of the exercise will depend heavily on efficient logistics and strict adherence to agreements.
Speaking during a high-level engagement with the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), underscored what he described as the “non-negotiable” role of transport logistics in delivering credible elections.
“An election can only be as good as its logistics are,” Amupitan said, stressing that vehicles and drivers deployed for election duties must meet agreed standards and timelines.
Anambra Experience: A Cautionary Tale
The INEC chairman referenced the last governorship election in Anambra State as a near logistical failure, citing faulty vehicles and lapses that almost disrupted the movement of sensitive materials from Enugu to Awka. According to him, some of the vehicles provided were unserviceable, forcing the commission to make emergency transport arrangements.
“What we got was not in line with the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed,” he said, warning that such lapses would not be tolerated in the forthcoming FCT poll.
High-Stakes Election
INEC disclosed that it plans to hire about 1,132 vehicles from the unions for the FCT council elections a scale the commission says mirrors that of a full state-level contest. About 570 candidates are expected to participate in chairmanship and vice-chairmanship races across the six area councils, alongside numerous councillorship contests.
Amupitan noted that constitutionally, the FCT carries the status of a state, making operational efficiency crucial. He emphasised that early deployment of vehicles to Registration Area Centres (RACs) on Friday before election day is mandatory to guarantee timely distribution of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials.
“The polling units are the foundation of votes. If materials do not arrive on time, the election cannot be considered successful,” he said.
No Room for Excuses
The INEC boss cautioned against deliberate delays or operational negligence, stressing that union leaders and election officials must ensure strict compliance with the logistics agreement.
In response, NURTW Director of Legal, Mercy Ibeh, acknowledged past challenges and said sustained dialogue between the unions, INEC, and FCT authorities had helped identify practical solutions. She described the concerns raised as familiar issues that have featured in previous roundtable engagements.
“We believe that if these issues are taken into consideration, most of those challenges will be sorted out,” she said, while also appealing for federal support to strengthen the union’s vehicle fleet.
Similarly, NURTW FCT Chairman, Abdullahi Dauda, assured the commission of full cooperation, pledging that drivers assigned to election duty would be available and properly coordinated.
With memories of past logistical setbacks still fresh, INEC’s latest warning signals a determined effort to safeguard the integrity of the FCT elections. The commission’s message is clear: without efficient transport logistics, the democratic process itself stands at risk.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.