Osun INEC’S claims of being “UNAWARE” of the NURTW leadership dispute is misleading : Baruwa remains the authentic National President by subsisting court judgments .
Yakubu Busari
The attention of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), under the leadership of Comrade Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, has been drawn to a statement reportedly issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osun State Office, claiming that it is “not aware” of the leadership dispute within the Union and is going ahead to engage an unauthorised group for election logistics during the forthcoming Osun State Governorship Election.
in a communiqué made available to this medium by the Plateau State Chapter by Auwalu Garba signed, Comrade Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa National President
National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National Headquarters, Abuja.
The Union says this position is misleading, inaccurate, and shows a clear disregard for existing court judgments on the leadership of the NURTW.
1. THE COURTS HAVE SPOKEN
The Court of Appeal, in Appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/293/2024, has already delivered clear and binding judgments affirming Comrade Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa as the duly elected and recognised National President of the NURTW. Based on this, the Baruwa-led National Executive Council remains the only lawful authority empowered to act on behalf of the Union, including entering into agreements such as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between INEC and the NURTW on election logistics.
2. THE PURPORTED RIVAL GROUP HAS NO LEGAL STANDING
Any group operating or presenting itself as the NURTW outside the Baruwa-led leadership, including those linked with Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (popularly known as MC Oluomo), has no legal authority to represent or act for the Union. It is already on record that on 10 March 2022, MC Oluomo publicly stepped away from NURTW membership and is therefore not part of the existing INEC/NURTW MoU.
3. ADVICE TO INEC, OSUN STATE
The Baruwa-led National Executive Council is urging the Osun State Office of INEC to immediately stop engaging, accrediting, or dealing with any unauthorised group for the movement of election personnel and materials.
Any logistics arrangement made with such a group is invalid and goes against subsisting Court of Appeal judgments.
The Union will not hesitate to take all necessary legal steps to protect its rights and ensure compliance with the law. The National Headquarters of INEC has already been formally notified and served with Certified True Copies of the relevant court judgments.
4. OUR COMMITMENT
The NURTW remains fully committed to its partnership with INEC under the existing Memorandum of Understanding to ensure the smooth, safe, and timely movement of election personnel and materials in Osun State and across the country.
For clarity, all official engagements with the NURTW must be done strictly through the Office of the National President, Comrade Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa, at the Union’s National Secretariat in Abuja.
