Despite hoodlums raiding one of its voter card collection centres in Osun and making away with BVAS machines and PVCs, INEC says nothing will stop the governorship election from holding as planned.

Here is the story in full:

INEC has come out to reassure voters in Osun State that Sunday’s attack on one of its Permanent Voter Card collection centres won’t throw the governorship election off track.

According to the commission, some suspected hoodlums stormed its PVC collection centre at Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku, attacked staff on duty and carted away electoral materials, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices and PVCs.

But speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Dayo Oketola, said the incident has been formally reported to the police and investigation is already underway.

“The Osun incident has been reported to the police. As we speak, it is already public knowledge that the police have started an investigation,” he said.

Oketola said the commission is confident the police will track down the suspects, arrest them and recover all stolen assets.

He was also very clear that INEC won’t be distracted. According to him, operational preparations are firmly on track, and the election will be free, fair and credible.

“It is a matter already under investigation; I cannot actually comment too much on it. But I know that that cannot distract INEC from carrying out the activities preceding the Osun governorship election,” he noted.

As part of its preparations, INEC says it is embarking on a pre-assessment tour of the state to check operational readiness and engage key local stakeholders.

And for those worried about the missing BVAS devices, Oketola revealed that a total of 4,427 BVAS devices have been configured for the election, including 664 backup units. In addition, 97 Super Registration Area Centres (Super RACs) and 105 Registration Area Centres have been set up across all local government areas and will be fully activated the night before the election.

“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 assured.

He also described the theft of PVCs as an exercise in futility, stressing that with BVAS technology, no one can use another person’s voter card.

“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.

For voters whose cards may have been among those stolen, INEC assured that no registered voter will be disenfranchised on August 15, and that necessary administrative measures will be taken to ensure everyone whose name is on the register can vote.

Oketola also called on all stakeholders, community leaders, traditional rulers, religious organisations, political actors and security agencies – to work together to protect electoral materials and ensure a peaceful voting environment.

Credit: cbinews.tv

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