National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Electoral Process in SouthWest, Nigeria (2015-2020)

The study identified ways in which the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) informally gets involved in the electoral process in Southwest, Nigeria; ascertained the implications of the activities of the NURTW on the electoral process; and investigated whether there was a uniformity of perspective and approach among the different State branches of the NURTW vis-à-vis their involvement in the electoral process. It also examined how the electoral process in Nigeria may be enhanced to improve voters’ confidence thereby deepening the country’s quest for credible election in Southwest, Nigeria. These were with a view to establishing possible nexus between the NURTW and the electoral process. Data for the study were gathered through primary and secondary sources. Primary data were sourced via in-depth interview of 50 Key Informant Respondents (KIRs), which comprise personnel from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and National Union of Road Transport Workers (NUTRW), some academics in relevant disciplines from Nigerian universities, card carrying members of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) as well as commuters and electorates. Secondary data sources includedbooks, journal articles, online publications, newspaper editorials, published and unpublished dissertations and via the internet. The data gathered were analysed through thematic analysis. The study revealed that NURTW informally gets involved in the electoral process in Southwest, Nigeria, through the provision of logistics services such as transportation of election materials. Also, the study established that the involvement of the NURTW in the electoral process enhanced hitch-free conduct of elections. The study found that the nature of the transport union in the Southwest vis-à-vis its leadership structure and modes of operations made it impossible to achieve uniformity in their involvement in elections in the country. The study established that the use of technology in the electoral process during voters’ registration and on the day of election would improve voters’ confidence. The study concluded that the involvement of the NURTW in the electoral process through the provision of logistics services contributed towards achieving successful elections in Southwest, Nigeria.