Free and Fair Elections for NARTO Apapa members

We all have the right to make informed choices about who to lead us and represent us in our unit TOTAL/ELF APAPA.

We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned about the current constitutional and political crisis in TOTAL/ELF APAPA. This crisis has reversed and threatens to undo permanently most of the gains made by the fledgling democratic process in TOTAL/ELF APAPA, including the independence of the electoral committee, growing systems to protect and uphold human rights, and respect for memorandum of association.

Narto is about transport owners and not operators and as such should not be converted for that purpose. If for any reason the process is going to be different it should be jointly agreed by all and not a select few. An election was attempted on our election day between the past serving officers under the disguise that they were having an operators meeting. After much resistance during the failed election bid, they came up with another idea that all operators should select two affiliates to vote. We believe that the unofficial pronouncement of this is contrary to what NARTO stands for. We vehemently refuse this as we are all entitled to a vote and we would like to be counted.

As individuals who seek democracy in our unit, we believe that the upcoming elections cannot be fully free, fair and legitimate until ALL of the following conditions are met:

• The fundamental constitutional rights of Transporters as enshrined in the Memorandum of Association are restored.

• Past executive to do a proper handover to a caretaker committee and the committee be in place before the conduct of a new election.

• The code of conduct on election is adhered to and their complete freedom to vote without restrictions is restored.

• The rule of law as guaranteed by the Memorandum of Association is observed.

We have been excluded from participating in election meant for our unit as provided under section 3 of the Memorandum of Association of NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF ROAD TRANSPORT OWNERS. The Objects for which the Association is established are:

a. To promote and protect the interest of NARTO members in the road haulage industry in Nigeria and generally those of Nigerian Road Haulage and Commercial Transport operators.

b. To consider all questions connected with the carrying on of road haulage operators and transporters general transportation business in Nigeria.

c. To present, express and give effect to the views and opinions of road haulage operators and transporters generally.

Our operators are locking Transporters out whilst trying to hold a selection process rather than an election. Put simply these highly suspicious affair do not meet the transporters interest.

The TOTAL we are working for have long recognised our importance, yet for successive years our policy decisions in our unit Narto have forced our members to be worse off. This is an issue of strategic importance to the overall existence of this unit.

We are not saying no to operators, but we do want is transporters to have equal interest in an association which is necessary to TOTAL/ELF APAPA long term security and prosperity. We are concerned how we will be represented if these few operators who make up less than 5% of the transporters and select themselves for elective office would actually work for the interest and the benefit of Transporters.

We would rather like a situation where people representing us would be chosen democratically and not forced on us.

As concerned Transporters we want to be part of the discussion which impacts our future for generations to come.