Protect Osun voter card distribution points, ZLP gubernatorial candidate urges INEC

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Following the incident of stealing of some Permanent Voter’s Cards in Okuku, Odo Otin Local

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Government Area of Osun State, candidate of the Zenith Labour Party, in the August 15 governorship poll, Olufemi Adesuyi, has called for improved security around ward collation centres where PVCs are being collected.

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This was contained in a statement signed by Adesuyi copy of which was obtained by The PUNCH in Osogbo on Tuesday.

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The ZLP candidate said improving security around the PVC collation centres in the state has become a necessity to prevent repeat of the Okuku incident.

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He urged the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, to collaborate with the security agencies and provide strong security across the 332 wards collation centres where registrants are collecting their PVCs.

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“We cannot afford a situation where voters who have done the right thing by registering will be denied their cards due to negligence or criminal activities. The safety of PVCs and other materials is critical to the credibility of the electoral process.

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“We call for the immediate deployment of more security personnel to all INEC offices and designated collection points, especially in rural areas to prevent reoccurrence of Okuku PVC theft incident.

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“The Odo-Otin case should serve as a wake-up call. If one centre can be compromised, others are vulnerable.

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“We are calling on the REC to act now. Safeguard our PVC collection centres. Protect the votes and protect democracy. The people of Osun deserve nothing less,” Adesuyi said.

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The PUNCH reports that Some suspected hoodlums reportedly stormed a Permanent Voter Card distribution centre at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Okuku, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were distributing Permanent Voter Cards, and carted away some of the cards.

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The incident, which occurred on Sunday, reportedly disrupted the exercise as people at the scene fled in different directions.

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A resident of Okuku, identified simply as Gbadebo, told our correspondent that the perpetrators entered the premises unnoticed and fired shots into the air before making away with packs of PVCs kept close to the chairs of the INEC officials attending to prospective voters.

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