Osun Election: Heavy Security Presence as INEC Intensifies Final Preparations

Osun Election: Heavy Security Presence as INEC Intensifies Final Preparations
Heavy security presence was observed at INEC premises across Osogbo.
INEC said 1.9 million voters collected PVCs ahead of Saturday’s poll.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office along Gbongan Ibadan Road in Osogbo, Osun State, was busy on Friday as preparations intensified for Saturday’s governorship election.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that heavy presence of security personnel was observed at the INEC premises as authorities made final arrangements for the deployment of personnel and election materials across the state’s 30 local government areas.

Journalists, civil society organisations, election observers and other stakeholders were also at the commission’s office to monitor the final preparations for the poll.

Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies were seen in large numbers at the premises. They are expected to be deployed across the state to provide security before, during and after the election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, was also said to be meeting with National Commissioners and supporting Resident Electoral Commissioners from other states to ensure a smooth conduct of the election.

The election will be conducted in 3,763 polling units across 332 wards in the 30 local government areas of Osun State.

The poll is expected to attract voters from across the state as major political parties intensify their mobilisation ahead of the election.

INEC has repeatedly assured stakeholders of adequate preparations and urged voters to exercise their franchise peacefully.

INEC Releases PVC Collection Figures

Meanwhile, INEC disclosed that 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards had been collected by registered voters ahead of the election.

The figure represents 81.50 per cent of the 2,339,233 registered voters in the state.

The commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

He said the remaining 426,842 PVCs, representing 18.50 per cent of registered voters, had been safely kept with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The commission said, “Out of the total of 2,339,233 registered voters in the State, 1,906,390 PVCs, representing 81.50 per cent, have been collected. The remaining 426,842 PVCs, representing 18.50 per cent, have been safely deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in line with the Commission’s established practice.”

INEC also said some registered voters whose PVCs were damaged, defaced or lost had applied for replacement cards.

Osun Election: Heavy Security Presence as INEC Intensifies Final Preparations

The commission disclosed that 6,101 applicants printed downloadable copies of their PVCs.

It stated, “Similarly, it should be noted that some persons with damaged, defaced, or lost PVCs applied for replacement of their cards. A total of 6,101 among those who applied printed downloadable copies of their PVCs.”