Osun 2022: “76% Of PVC Collected” INEC Chairman
…As Police Deploys 21,000 personnel For Osun Governorship Election
Ahead of the Osun State governorship election slated for July 16, the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu on Tuesday disclosed that 76% of permanent voters’ cards have been collected by eligible voters in Osun.
Speaking at Osun state Governorship election stakeholders meeting at Osogbo, the INEC boss said of the 1,955,657 registered voters in the state, 1,479,595 have collected their cards as at Sunday 10th July 2022.
He added that INEC was still updating its records and would provide detailed breakdown of PVCs collected on Friday 15th July 2022
According to him, the total number of PVCs collected will be used to determine the margin of lead principle, as against the total number of registered voters in line with the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022 derived from the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
“To underscore our commitment to an inclusive, credible and transparent electoral process, the commission is deploying assistive devices for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to have a more pleasant voting experience on Election Day.
“Magnifying glasses, Braille Ballot Guide and Posters for voters with hard of hearing conditions will be deployed at polling unit level in areas of need based on data collected in collaboration with the PwD community.”
“Beyond these measures, we also want to make PwDs to get more involved in election administration like everyone else. In this regard, the 2022 Osun State Governorship election will also make history, being the first election in which INEC is deploying PwDs as ad hoc staff.”
“The Commission has accredited Polling Agents nominated by political parties for the 3,763 polling units, 332 Ward collation centres, 30 Local Government Area collation centres and the State Collation Centre where the final declaration of result will be made.”
“As an indication of the intense national and international interest in the 2022 Osun State Governorship Election, 87 Observer groups (79 domestic and 8 international) deploying a total of 7,790 field observers have been accredited for the election. Similarly, 94 media organisations (92 national and 2 international) deploying 624 journalists have been accredited to cover the election.”
He assured Osun people of free, fair and credible election and urged them to come out in numbers to exercise their voting rights.
Also speaking, the inspector general of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali Baba on said that, a total number of 21,000 police personnel would be deployed to monitor and maintain orderliness during the election
He added that, all three senatorial districts, 332 wards and polling units have been appropriately mapped out and put for the deployment of adequate personnel who will be on the ground to maintain peace and orderliness before, during and after the election.
He said that the police will be deployed to protect the facilities of INEC and its personnel.
“This deployment is not meant to intimidate any law-abiding citizens rather it is to deter misguided elements that may threaten the conduct of the election and violate the electoral act. It also serves as a strong warning that government is determined to protect the citizens.”
Alkali Baba who further maintained that, the police will not allow any person or group of person no matter how highly and lowly placed in the society to derail the electoral process, affirmed that, ‘no one is allowed to move about from one polling unit to another as there will be restrictions on movement on the day of the election.
“I enjoined the political, opinion, and community leaders to provide the moral leadership that will motivate citizens to conduct themselves according to electoral law and the constitution of Nigeria.”
‘You are all to be guided by the following during the election. No one is allowed to wear any cloth, emblem or colour that signifies any political parties in the polling units. No person is allowed to move around with security details around the polling units. Indeed, the appropriate directive has been given for the withdrawal of details around politically exposed persons.”
“Everyone is enjoined to vote and return to their respective houses within approved perimeters of the polling centres.”
“Only INEC accredited election monitors, observers are permitted to move around for the purpose of election monitoring and they must all wear their INEC accreditation tags.
“Only accredited journalists are allowed to cover the election. Bote-buying or any form of inducement are not allowed and remain a very serious offences.”
“Praise singing, dancing, drumming around the vicinity are not allowed around the polling units. Vehicles branded with any political parties should not be deployed for any election assignment. Selling of alcoholic beverages around the polling section, booth, or collation centres is totally banned.”
“Anybody who causes violence around polling units or threatens public peace in any manner before, during and after an election shall be apprehended and dealt with according to law,” he submitted.