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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured voters that the Osun governorship election will go ahead as planned despite the attack on one of its Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection centres in the state.
The commission’s Chief Press Secretary, Dayo Oketola, gave the assurance on Monday, saying the incident would not affect preparations for the August 15 governorship election.
Suspected hoodlums on Sunday attacked a PVC collection centre at Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku, assaulting staff and making away with Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and PVCs.
Oketola said the incident had been reported to the police, who have already launched an investigation.
“INEC cannot be distracted. We will conduct a free and fair election in Osun. That incident cannot distract us,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the police would arrest those responsible and recover the stolen electoral materials.
Oketola also said the commission had configured 4,427 BVAS devices for the election, including 664 backup units, to ensure voting is not disrupted.
“Whatever was carted away will be replaced. Out of the 4,427 BVAS, we have 664 prepared as backups. There is no way whatever happened can disrupt our plans for the election,” he said.
He added that INEC had established 97 Super Registration Area Centres and 105 Registration Area Centres across Osun to support election logistics.
He also pledged that any registered voter affected by the theft would not be disenfranchised, saying the commission would take the necessary steps to protect their voting rights.
Oketola called on security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, religious groups and political stakeholders to work together to safeguard electoral materials and ensure a peaceful election.
