The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State says 192,702 permanent voter cards have been collected so far, representing 37.5 percent of those distributed to voters across the state. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the resident electoral commissioner, made this disclosure on Sunday during a town hall meeting in Osogbo.
Babalola assured voters that every valid vote will count in the August 15 governorship election. She reaffirmed the commission's commitment to conducting a peaceful, credible and transparent poll.
The commission is still awaiting sensitive election materials needed for the election, Babalola said. She stressed that adequate preparations have been made to guarantee smooth conduct of the exercise.
INEC has deployed multiple platforms to educate voters on the importance of participating in the election, according to the REC. "Every vote will count and we encourage all eligible voters to come out on election day," she said.
The commission identified flashpoints across parts of the state, including areas prone to thuggery, communal violence and cult activities. Babalola noted that this information had been shared with security agencies for proactive deployment and effective security arrangements.
INEC maintains close collaboration with security agencies, and she expressed confidence the election will be peaceful and secure. The commission has recruited sufficient ad hoc staff, with training set to commence soon, she added.
A mock accreditation exercise will be conducted on August 1 in four local government areas, one from each senatorial district. The exercise will test the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System ahead of the election, Babalola explained.
On reported factionalisation within transport unions in the state, Babalola said no faction had been recognised by INEC. "I am speaking with the representative of the national body.
Whatever issues they have are their internal affairs. They have deployed their Director of Organisation to the state and we are dealing with him," she stated.
Sunday Smith, a member of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities Osun State Chapter, urged INEC to prioritise assistive materials for persons with disabilities. He appealed to the commission to ensure its ad hoc staff received adequate training on supporting voters living with disabilities.
Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, representing the state commissioner of police Ibrahim Gotan, assured participants that security agencies had developed new strategies to guarantee peace. He disclosed that no arrest had been made over recent developments in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
Deputy Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Afuye Kikelomo, representing the state commandant Igbalawole Sotiyo, warned that anyone involved in electoral malpractice would face the full weight of the law. The warning underscores the commitment of security agencies to protect the integrity of the election.
Oba Azeez Olatunbosun, the Akire of Ikire-Ile, described the town hall meeting as a timely initiative that would strengthen citizens' participation in the electoral process.
