Eight political parties in Oyo State have rejected the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to engage members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), for transportation of electoral materials during the elections.

The parties are Accord, Labour Party (LP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance, KOWA Party, African People’s Alliance (APA) and Democratic People’s Party (DPP).

The parties had consequently petitioned the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, to shelve the plan in Oyo State because of alleged link between the state chapter of the NURTW and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as well as the union’s history of violence and thuggery.

In each of the six petitions dated February 17, copies of which were made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday, the parties said the engagement of the union members in the forthcoming elections would erode the confidence of the people of the state in the elections and “cast serious doubt as to the integrity and readiness” of INEC for credible elections in the state.

“The Oyo State NURTW, through their executive council, has been fingered in many politically motivated violence and brigandage which at times, resulted in the death of innocent people while some sustained serious injuries,” the petition read.

They advised INEC to direct the Electoral Officers in each of the 33 local government areas in the state to hire commercial buses or private commercial vehicles and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them and involved the security operatives to avert a breach of the agreement.

“Let us reiterate that we are not averse to the use of NURTW in some states where such will be appropriate, but definitely not in Oyo State. We are looking forward to an election that will take place in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity,” the parties stated.