'Lai Olurode during which the union is proscribed or purported to be proscribed by any state authority or any force outside the operation of the union; b. Whether the period when the Oyo state chapter was proscribed or purported to be proscribed by the Oyo state government between 27th May, 2011 and 7th August, 2012 and between 6th June, 2011 and 5th October, 2012, making a total of 19 months when union activities were totally paralyzed and the state executive committee was unable to function will count towards the four-year term fixed by paragraph 4(iv) of Article 42 of the constitution of the union for the state executive committee of the union; c. Whether the constitution of the union contemplates the appointment of a caretaker committee to take the place of a duly elected state executive committee, when the state executive committee has not been suspended or dissolved by a resolution of the national executive committee of the union as provided in paragraph 7 of Article 42 of the constitution of the union. The importance of this case is to illustrate undue interference in the activities of the union by state governments and the utter disregard for court rulings by state authorities. The overall objective was to put in place a faction that can be adjudged as more pliable and gullible enough to do the biddings of the government in power. The general perception is that whichever political party has the union on its side is certain to have some advantages over its political'adversaries' in the electoral process. The union is a beautiful bride that is desired by 60 Understanding a'Power Broker': The Road Transport Workers Unions in the Context of Election Security all. It is simply regarded as a power broker. The union is believed to have enough of the features that an average Nigerian politician strives for to gain political advantage of members of the union are believed to be capable of provoking embarrassment of political foes, disrupting their campaign rallies, causing breach of peace in the electoral process through snatching of election materials, abducting political opponents and paralysing electoral process in the stronghold of opposition. Then what with the reneging on previous contractual agreement to transport election materials on time so that the wards and polling units or even local government of the opposition will be disadvantaged. In my discussions with a REC about the need for understanding between the Commission and NURTW on the latter's indispensable role in the electoral process came out clearly. The REC had this to say on transport workers: 'I once had a frustrating experience in Benue state with transport workers during one of the elections. There was an agreement which l thought had been struck with some transporters both financially and with regard to the mode of operations on election day. But on the day of election, there were threats by them to withdraw their vehicles and there were complaints of fuel shortage. I think it makes sense to seek partnership with transport workers ahead of election and thus consider them as stakeholders in the electoral process. 9 9 Interview with Nasir Ayilara, Resident Electoral Commissioner formerly of Benue State but now in Oyo State. 61