By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Niger State on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, held...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Niger State on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, held a stakeholders’ meeting with transport unions to discuss logistics and transportation arrangements for the successful conduct of the 2027 General Elections.
The meeting, led by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Oliver Tersoo Agundu, and attended by the Commission’s management staff, focused on vehicle availability, roadworthiness, timely preparations, security, neutrality, and effective coordination among stakeholders.
In his remarks, Dr. Agundu urged the transport unions to put their houses in order by ensuring the availability of serviceable vehicles and making adequate preparations well ahead of the elections. He also called on them to shun partisanship and uphold transparency, neutrality, and professionalism throughout the electoral process.
The REC further stressed the importance of providing responsible and disciplined drivers to prevent avoidable incidents and ensure the smooth transportation of election personnel and materials.
Speaking at the meeting, the Head of the Operations Department, Mallam Abdulwaheed Sa’ad, stated that all vehicles designated for election duties would undergo roadworthiness tests conducted by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) before being certified fit for the assignment.
Representatives of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and Fresh Water Transporters expressed appreciation for the cordial relationship between the Commission and the unions. They assured INEC of their commitment to improving service delivery compared with previous electoral exercises.
The unions also pledged to provide serviceable vehicles and make additional ones available to address unforeseen circumstances. However, they appealed to the Commission to strengthen communication and coordination, particularly between the unions and Electoral Officers at the local government level.
They also highlighted security challenges confronting the state and called for appropriate measures to address them.
Responding to the concerns raised, Dr. Agundu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment, under his leadership in Niger State, to working closely with transport unions and other stakeholders to ensure the successful conduct of the 2027 General Elections.
He further disclosed that the Commission was expected to engage security agencies on election security. He added that the outcomes of the deliberations and the resolutions reached would be communicated in due course.
On electoral inclusivity, the REC disclosed that INEC was making arrangements to facilitate voting for eligible voters residing in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, in line with the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that no eligible voter was left behind.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Abisabo Yahaya thanked the transport unions for their participation and cooperation. He reiterated the importance of transparency, accountability, and responsibility in the discharge of their duties, noting that effective collaboration among stakeholders remained essential to the smooth conduct of the 2027 General Elections.
The meeting highlighted INEC Niger State’s commitment to early planning, effective logistics, stakeholder collaboration, and the conduct of credible, inclusive, and peaceful elections in 2027.
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