The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards in Osun State as preparations for the August 15 governorship election enter the final stage.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, announced the extension on Wednesday during the Stakeholders’ Forum in Osogbo. He assured residents that the commission is ready to deliver a credible, peaceful and transparent election.
According to him, 322,822 people who registered during the Continuous Voter Registration have already collected their PVCs. That represents about 62 per cent of new voters.
He explained that this figure is different from an earlier report. INEC had previously said 37.5 per cent of all uncollected cards in the state, including old ones, were picked up during a special distribution. The new 62 per cent covers only those who registered recently, according to details reported by Premium Times.
Mr. Amupitan urged residents who are yet to collect their cards to do so quickly.
“Your PVC is the only thing that allows you to vote on election day,” he said.
To test its systems, the commission will also conduct a mock accreditation exercise on Saturday, August 1 in selected local government areas. The exercise is to check how well the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System works before the main poll.
Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, said most election logistics are already in place. She noted that voter registration increased the total number of registered voters in the state from 1,954,800 to 2,339,233.
She added that all 3,763 BVAS machines required for the election have been configured and charged. Another 1,328 backup machines have been provided. Non-sensitive materials have been sent to local government offices, while sensitive materials are being kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria office in Osogbo.
Training for ad hoc staff will hold between July 31 and August 9. Mrs. Babalola said the commission has also identified areas that may experience problems and is working with security agencies to ensure proper deployment.
Speaking at the forum, National Commissioner supervising Osun, Kunle Ajayi, described the election as an important test for Nigeria’s democracy. He said INEC has invested in logistics, voter education, technology and staff training to improve the process.
He warned political parties and their supporters against vote buying, intimidation and hate speech, saying anyone caught will be prosecuted under the Electoral Act. He also called on security personnel, civil society groups and the media to remain neutral and professional.
Governor Ademola Adeleke will be seeking re-election on August 15. He will face candidates from 14 other parties, including the APC and ADC.