…INEC Assures Stolen PVCs, BVAS Won’t Affect Election
The Osun State Police Command has launched a manhunt for gunmen who attacked officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Odo-Otin Local Government Area, making away with three packs of voter cards and some election equipment ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The attack occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School in Ward 2, Okuku, where INEC officials were distributing PVCs to eligible voters.
In a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said about 10 armed hoodlums stormed the centre and fired several gunshots into the air before fleeing with the materials.
“The hoodlums reportedly fired sporadically into the air and carted away three packs of PVCs,” Ojelabi said.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had condemned the attack and ordered a full-scale investigation to ensure those responsible are identified, arrested and prosecuted.
Ojelabi urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding, warning against actions capable of escalating tensions. He also appealed to eyewitnesses and members of the public with useful information to report to the nearest police station or contact the command through its emergency lines.
INEC also confirmed that some Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices were stolen during the attack.
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Dayo Oketola, said the incident had been formally reported to the police and expressed confidence that the suspects would be arrested and the stolen electoral materials recovered.
“The Osun incident has been reported to the police. As we speak, it is already public knowledge that the police have started an investigation,” Oketola said.
“As a commission, we trust that the police will be diligent in their investigation, track those suspects, get them arrested and ensure they face the wrath of the law. We also trust that they’ll be able to recover our devices, including the BVAS that were reportedly carted away,” he added.
Despite the attack, Oketola maintained that the theft would not affect the conduct or credibility of the governorship election, stressing that Nigeria’s biometric voting system makes the stolen PVCs useless.
“Nobody can use another person’s PVC to vote in an election in Nigeria again. The era of ghost voters is gone. With BVAS, you must tender your PVC and undergo biometric authentication,” he said.
“The technology has been tightened in such a manner that nobody can use another person’s identity to vote any longer in Nigeria. That has been proven in previous elections, particularly those that were conducted under the leadership of Prof Amupitan.”
He disclosed that INEC had configured 4,427 BVAS devices for the Osun governorship election, including 664 backup units, to ensure any stolen or faulty devices are immediately replaced.
“Whatever was carted away will be replaced. Of the 4,427 BVAS, 664 are prepared as backups. There is no way whatever happened can disrupt our plans for the election,” he assured.
According to him, the commission has also established 97 Super Registration Area Centers and 105 Registration Area Centers across the state, all of which will be activated on the eve of the election to support smooth logistics and operations.
Oketola said the commission was also conducting a pre-election assessment tour of Osun to evaluate its operational readiness and engage critical stakeholders.
He assured voters that those whose PVCs were stolen would not be disenfranchised, saying the commission would take all necessary administrative measures to protect their voting rights.
“Once a voter’s name is already on the voters’ register, and somehow, your PVC happens to be among those that have been reportedly stolen, I want to believe you can’t be disenfranchised from exercising your right or participating in the election, come Aug. 15.
“Whatever the commission will do to solve that problem will be done. I know the commission will leave no stone unturned to ensure that no registered voter in Osun is disenfranchised on the election day,” he said.
Reaffirming the commission’s resolve to conduct the poll as scheduled, Oketola said the attack would not derail preparations.
“It is a matter already under investigation; I cannot actually comment too much on it. But I know that it cannot distract INEC from carrying out the activities preceding the Osun governorship election,” he said.
“INEC cannot be distracted. We will conduct a free and fair election in Osun. That incident cannot distract us. The election will go on as planned, and we expect it to be free, fair and credible at the end of the day.”
He also urged security agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, political actors, religious organisations and residents to work together to safeguard electoral materials and ensure a peaceful election.
The attack comes amid heightened security concerns ahead of the poll.
INEC had earlier identified 385 flashpoints across Osun State and shared the findings of its security risk assessment with law enforcement agencies to strengthen election security.
The August 15 governorship election will see incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking re-election against candidates including Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress.
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