The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the August 15 Osun State governorship election until July 31, assuring residents that the election outcome will be decided by votes, not violence.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), made the announcement during an Expanded Stakeholders' Meeting in Osogbo on Wednesday, saying the commission had completed its readiness assessment and was fully prepared to conduct a free, fair, and credible election.
According to INEC, 2,339,233 registered voters across Osun State's 30 local government areas, 332 registration areas, and 3,763 polling units are eligible to vote, while 14 political parties will participate in the election.
"The ballot, not the bullet, will determine the outcome of the election," Amupitan said, stressing that the commission would not allow violence or intimidation to undermine the democratic process.
INEC revealed that 322,822 newly registered voters, representing about 60 percent, had already collected their PVCs, prompting the extension of the collection exercise to allow more eligible voters to obtain their cards.
The commission also announced enhanced security measures around PVC collection centres and confirmed that 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, including 1,328 backup units, had been deployed for the election.
Voting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on election day, while Registration Area Centres will open on August 14 for the deployment of election officials, materials, and security personnel. Electoral Officers who fail to commence accreditation on time will be held accountable.
To further test its preparedness, INEC will conduct a mock accreditation exercise on August 1 in four local government areas across the state's three senatorial districts.
The commission acknowledged recent attacks on its offices in Odo Otin and Ife Central, where uncollected PVCs were stolen. However, it assured voters that the stolen cards cannot be used because they require biometric verification through the BVAS system. Affected voters will receive replacement or downloadable PVCs.
INEC also announced measures to improve accessibility, including Braille ballot guides for visually impaired voters, magnifying glasses for voters with low vision, and priority voting for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and elderly citizens.
To combat vote buying, the commission said it is working with anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC, ICPC, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). Plainclothes officers will monitor polling units for electoral offences.
The 14 political parties contesting the election are expected to sign a Peace Accord on July 30, under the supervision of the National Peace Committee and the Inter-Party Advisory Council.
Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola said INEC had completed 11 of the 13 scheduled election activities, with only campaign conclusion and election day remaining. She added that all sensitive election materials had arrived safely and were secured at the Central Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo.
Meanwhile, Osun State Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, representing the Inspector-General of Police, assured residents that security agencies would remain neutral, professional, and committed to ensuring a peaceful and credible election.
.jpeg)
0 Comment about the Post: