INEC extends PVC collection, says violence won’t decide Osun poll

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards for the August 15 Osun State governorship election to July 31, assuring residents that the outcome of the poll would be determined by votes and not violence.

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INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance on Wednesday during an Expanded Stakeholders’ Meeting in Osogbo, saying the commission had concluded a comprehensive readiness audit and was fully prepared to conduct a credible election.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday, the commission disclosed that 2,339,233 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election across the state’s 30 local government areas, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units, with 14 political parties fielding candidates.

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“The ballot box, and not the bullet, will determine the outcome of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, as INEC will not allow the will of the electorate to be subverted by violence or intimidation,” the statement read.

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The commission added that 322,822 voters, representing 60 per cent of newly registered voters, had collected their PVCs as of Tuesday, prompting the extension of the collection exercise until Friday, July 31.

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According to the statement, Amupitan said he would meet with security agencies to facilitate the deployment of patrol vehicles to PVC collection centres to enhance security.

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On election technology, he said the commission had customised and deployed 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, including 1,328 back-up units, representing a 15 per cent operational reserve.

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The INEC chairman said voting would commence at 8.30 a.m. on election day, while Registration Area Centres would open from noon on August 14 to enable the deployment of personnel, election materials and security operatives.

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He warned that Electoral Officers whose local government areas failed to commence accreditation by 8.30 a.m. would be held accountable.

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To test the commission’s preparedness, he announced a mock accreditation exercise for August 1 in four local government areas, one from each senatorial district.

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On security, Amupitan said INEC had integrated an Electoral Risk Management framework into its planning in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and development partners to identify flashpoints requiring enhanced security deployment.

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He confirmed attacks on two INEC facilities in Odo Otin and Ife Central within the past week, during which uncollected PVCs were stolen.

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However, he assured voters that the stolen cards could not be used because they require the legitimate owner’s live biometric verification through the BVAS before accreditation.

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He added that affected voters would receive reprinted or downloadable PVCs.

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Amupitan also announced measures to enhance inclusivity, including Braille ballot guides for visually impaired voters, magnifying glasses for voters with albinism and low vision, and priority queues for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly.

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On vote buying, he said INEC was working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to tackle both cash-based and digital vote buying.

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He added that plainclothes anti-corruption officers would monitor polling unit perimeters on election day.

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The INEC chairman further disclosed that the 14 political parties participating in the election would sign a Peace Accord on July 30 under the auspices of the National Peace Committee and the Inter-Party Advisory Council.

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Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the commission had completed 11 of the 13 activities contained in the election timetable, with only the end of campaigns and the conduct of the election outstanding.

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She added that all sensitive election materials had arrived in the state and were being secured at the Central Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo, while non-sensitive materials had already been distributed to all local government areas.

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Also speaking, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, who represented the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, assured residents that security agencies would remain neutral and professional throughout the election.

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He warned politicians and their supporters against vote buying and other electoral offences, stressing that anyone found violating the Electoral Act would be arrested and prosecuted, irrespective of political affiliation or status.

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