OSOGBO – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 192,702 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing 37.5 per cent of the total cards distributed so far, have been collected by eligible voters across Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

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The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, made the disclosure on Sunday during the Osun Citizens’ Town Hall Meeting in Osogbo, where she reassured residents that every valid vote would count and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to conducting a peaceful, credible and transparent election. She said INEC was still expecting sensitive election materials for the poll but expressed confidence that adequate preparations had been made to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

Babalola said the commission had intensified voter education through various platforms to encourage greater participation in the electoral process. She urged all eligible voters to collect their PVCs and turn out on election day, stressing that the votes of citizens would determine the outcome of the election.

The REC also revealed that INEC had identified flashpoints across parts of the state, including areas prone to thuggery, communal clashes and cult-related activities. According to her, intelligence gathered had already been shared with security agencies to facilitate proactive deployment of personnel and ensure adequate security before, during and after the election.

She added that sufficient ad hoc staff had been recruited and would soon commence training, while a mock accreditation exercise using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be held on August 1 in four local government areas, one from each senatorial district, to test the technology ahead of the governorship poll.

Addressing concerns over the reported factionalisation within transport unions in the state, Babalola said no faction had been officially presented to the commission. She explained that INEC was dealing with representatives recognised by the national leadership of the union, describing the internal disagreements as matters for the organisation to resolve.

Representatives of security agencies assured participants of adequate security arrangements for the election. Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said security agencies had developed new strategies to maintain peace throughout the electoral process, adding that no arrests had been made over the recent incident in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.

Similarly, the Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Afuye Kikelomo, representing the State Commandant, Igbalawole Sotiyo, warned that anyone found engaging in electoral malpractice would face the full weight of the law.

Stakeholders at the meeting also called for peaceful conduct before and during the election. The Akire of Ikire-Ile, Oba Azeez Olatunbosun, described the governorship election as a crucial moment for Osun State and urged politicians to place the peace of the state above partisan interests. The Elegboro of Ijebu-Jesa, Oba Moses Agunsoye, disclosed that traditional rulers in Ijesaland had taken steps to promote peace, while religious leaders, including the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Osun, Rev. John Adeleke, and the Grand Imam of Osogbo, Sheikh Musa Muhammad Robiu Animashaun, urged voters to reject vote-buying, avoid violence and exercise their democratic rights freely and responsibly.