The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Osun State has said it is not aware of any faction within the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, in the state as it prepares logistics for the August 15 governorship election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Oluwatoyin Babalola, made the clarification during a town hall meeting organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity in Osogbo on Sunday.

Babalola explained that the commission works directly with the national leadership of the NURTW on election logistics rather than state chapters, noting that the arrangement is guided by an existing Memorandum of Understanding between both parties.

According to her, “INEC has maintained communication with representatives of the union’s national leadership and has not received any information suggesting the existence of factions within the organisation.

“For the transportation of our materials and personnel, we rely on the NURTW and NARTO. The national leadership has an MOU with the Commission, and we have been communicating with a representative of the national leadership. We’re not aware of any factionalisation.”

She disclosed that the commission had already conducted training sessions for transport providers across all local government areas in Osun State as part of preparations for the election.

The REC added that INEC would inspect vehicles to be deployed for election duties on the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding the governorship poll to ensure they meet the standards required under the agreement with the transport unions.

“Part of the MOU is that they must provide us with good vehicles, and we have scheduled the Tuesday and Wednesday preceding the election to inspect those vehicles,” she added.

The clarification comes amid a leadership dispute within the Osun State chapter of the NURTW, where the national leadership recently constituted a new caretaker committee following disagreements within the state branch.

INEC has continued preparations for the August governorship election, with the commission stating that its logistics arrangements remain coordinated through the national leadership of the NURTW and the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, despite developments within the state chapter.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is splitting opposition votes to the advantage of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), urging Nigerians to reject the PDP in the 2027 general elections.

The party’s governorship candidate in Jigawa State, Senator Sabo Muhammad Nakudu, made the claim during the Jigawa South-West ADC stakeholders’ meeting held in Dutse over the weekend.

Nakudu, who was represented by his running mate, Malam Aminu Ibrahim Ringim, argued that supporting the PDP at this stage would ultimately strengthen the APC’s chances in the next general election.

According to him, the PDP has failed to present a clear presidential candidate, a situation he described as evidence that the party lacks the commitment to challenge the ruling party.

“The PDP is only pretending to be in opposition. It is there to divide votes. It does not have a presidential candidate, and there are different interests within the party, including those aligned with Nyesom Wike and others,” he said.

He maintained that Nigerians had experienced the administrations of both the APC and the PDP and should now embrace the ADC as a credible alternative capable of delivering good governance.

“Every Nigerian has tested both the APC and the PDP. They know what each party has to offer. Now is the time to support the ADC for a better future,” he said.

Ringim disclosed that the party was engaging prominent political stakeholders across the state and expressed confidence that more politicians would soon defect to the ADC.

“What remains now is sustained contact and engagement with the people. At our level, we are already in discussions with key political stakeholders, and very soon Nigerians will witness more people joining the ADC,” he added.

He called on party candidates, officials and supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation by recruiting more members ahead of the elections.

“At this stage, what we need is hard work, commitment and dedication to ensure our victory in the next general elections,” he said.

A public affairs analyst, Akin Malaolu, has claimed former President Olusegun Obasanjo is working for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

In a statement on Sunday, Malaolu said the former president’s support for Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso is a smokescreen.

According to him, Obasanjo is on a campaign to undermine the opposition parties in Nigeria.

“By this letter, Obasanjo has only confirmed the speculations that he is working for his kinsman, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to actualise his second-term ambition.

“The so-called Obasanjo’s support for Obi and Kwankwaso is a mere smokescreen aimed at masking his covert support for the Tinubu-led APC administration.”

Recall that Obasanjo had accused Atiku of allegedly bribing former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba, to impeach him. However, in a reply, Atiku dismissed Obasanjo’s claim.