The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) says the lingering fuel scarcity may affect the movement of election materials and its personnel.
INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this during a meeting with National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Abuja.
According to him, the commission would be meeting with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, to resolve any issues that might affect logistics delivery and personnel movement on election day.
In his words, “The Commission shares your concern about the fuel situation in the country and its impact on transportation on election Day.
“The truth is that our arrangements may be negatively affected by the non-availability of products.
“For this reason, the Commission will this afternoon meet with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to look into ways to ameliorate the situation.
“I wish to assure Nigerians that we will continue to engage every national institution for the success of the 2023 General Election.”
The INEC Chairman explained that the Commission has collaborated with the NURTW for three electoral cycles because logistics has been a problem in election administration in Nigeria.
He said, “The issue of logistics has been a perennial problem in election administration in Nigeria. That is why for three electoral cycles now, INEC has collaborated with the road transport unions to address the problem.
“For the 2023 General Election, the Commission has included the Marine Workers’ Union of Nigeria for efficient maritime transportation. The time has come to stop all excuses and provide effective logistics to ensure hitch-free logistics on Election Day.
“Nigerians should not wait for the arrival of personnel and materials at the polling units. Rather, we should be there waiting for the arrival of voters. We believe that this is achievable. Recent elections have shown that working in partnership with the unions and other stakeholders, we can achieve the objective.
“This is a patriotic duty and we should make the necessary sacrifice in the national interest.”
