1.9m PVCs collected as sensitive materials arrive Osogbo ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured voters and stakeholders that Saturday’s Osun State governorship election will be free, fair, credible and transparent as preparations for the poll reach their final stage.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, gave the assurance on Thursday as sensitive electoral materials, including ballot papers and result sheets, arrived in Osogbo.
The materials were moved to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in the state capital ahead of their distribution to the 30 local government areas.
The ballot papers and result sheets were reprinted following a court judgment directing INEC to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Francis Ajala, on the ballot. The development increased the number of candidates contesting the election to 15.
Haruna said the election would be conducted across 332 wards in the state, with 1,906,390 of the 2,339,233 registered voters having collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing 81.5 per cent.
He said the remaining PVCs had been deposited with the CBN in line with INEC’s established procedure, while 6,101 voters who applied to replace damaged, defaced or lost cards had printed downloadable copies.
The election is being contested by candidates of Accord, Action Alliance, African Action Congress, African Democratic Congress, Action Democratic Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, All Progressives Congress, Allied Peoples Movement, Action Peoples Party, Boot Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, Peoples Redemption Party, Social Democratic Party, Young Progressive Party and Zenith Labour Party.
President Bola Tinubu has also urged candidates, political parties, voters, security agencies and INEC to ensure a peaceful and credible election.
At the APC final rally in Osogbo, Tinubu, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, urged Osun voters to support the party’s candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, promising that the state would witness greater development if its resources were properly managed.
The election comes amid heightened political tension and reports of violence in parts of the state. Police also confirmed the killing of a nephew of APC campaign Director-General and House of Representatives member, Wole Oke, in Esa-Oke.
Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke alleged the presence of unauthorised INEC officials and uncustomised ballot papers in the state and called on security agencies to remain vigilant.
The police have increased security across Osun, particularly in Osogbo and other identified flashpoints, and warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the election would be arrested and prosecuted.
INEC urged voters to turn out peacefully and assured political parties, civil society organisations and the people of Osun State of its readiness to deliver a credible, transparent and inclusive election.