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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Secure Osun PVC collection centres, ZLP gov candidate tells INEC

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A gubernatorial candidate in Osun State, Nigeria, has called for enhanced security at PVC collection centers following a theft incident.
  • The candidate urged the electoral commission to collaborate with security agencies to prevent further loss of voter cards.
  • The incident in Okuku, where PVCs were stolen, highlights the vulnerability of collection points and the need for immediate action to ensure electoral integrity.

Olufemi Adesuyi, the Zenith Labour Party's candidate for the August 15 governorship election in Osun State, Nigeria, has demanded improved security at Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) collection centers. This call comes after an incident in Okuku, Odo Otin Local Government Area, where some PVCs were stolen.

We cannot afford a situation where voters who have done the right thing by registering will be denied their cards due to negligence or criminal activities.

— Olufemi AdesuyiHighlighting the importance of ensuring voters receive their cards.

Adesuyi stressed that enhancing security around ward collation centers is now essential to prevent a recurrence of the Okuku theft. He urged the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, to work with security agencies to provide robust security across all 332 ward collation centers where registrants are collecting their PVCs.

The safety of PVCs and other materials is critical to the credibility of the electoral process.

— Olufemi AdesuyiEmphasizing the link between secure materials and election integrity.

"We cannot afford a situation where voters who have done the right thing by registering will be denied their cards due to negligence or criminal activities," Adesuyi stated. He emphasized that the safety of PVCs and other electoral materials is crucial for the credibility of the election process. He called for the immediate deployment of more security personnel to all Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices and designated collection points, particularly in rural areas.

We call for the immediate deployment of more security personnel to all INEC offices and designated collection points, especially in rural areas to prevent reoccurrence of Okuku PVC theft incident.

— Olufemi AdesuyiDemanding increased security presence at collection centers.

The incident in Okuku, where suspected hoodlums reportedly stormed a PVC distribution center and carted away packs of cards, disrupted the exercise. A resident described how perpetrators entered unnoticed, fired shots into the air, and fled with the cards. Adesuyi warned that if one center could be compromised, others are also vulnerable, urging the REC to act swiftly to safeguard the collection centers and protect the democratic process.

The Odo-Otin case should serve as a wake-up call. If one centre can be compromised, others are vulnerable.

— Olufemi AdesuyiWarning about the vulnerability of PVC collection centers after the Okuku incident.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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