The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has reinforced operational safeguards for the August 15 Osun State governorship election, assuring voters that recent attacks on electoral facilities will not affect the conduct of the poll. The commission says contingency measures are already in place to ensure a smooth, credible and uninterrupted electoral process across the state.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Dayo Oketola, said the commission has configured 4,427 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices for the election, including 664 backup units that can be deployed if any equipment is lost, damaged or compromised before or during voting. He added that 97 Super Registration Area Centres and 105 Registration Area Centres have also been established across all local government areas and will become fully operational on the eve of the election.
The reassurance comes after suspected hoodlums reportedly attacked an INEC Permanent Voter Card distribution centre at Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku, on Sunday. According to reports, the attackers assaulted election officials and made away with electoral materials, including PVCs and BVAS devices, raising fresh concerns about election security in the state.
Despite the incident, Oketola said the theft of PVCs would not enable electoral fraud because Nigeria’s voting system requires biometric verification through the BVAS before any ballot can be cast. According to him, possession of another person’s voter card alone cannot guarantee accreditation, as every voter must be successfully authenticated using biometric data.
The INEC spokesman also confirmed that the attack had been reported to the police and that investigations were already underway. He expressed confidence that security agencies would identify those responsible, recover the stolen electoral equipment and ensure the suspects are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Oketola maintained that the commission’s preparations remain on schedule despite the security breach. He said any stolen equipment would be replaced from the available reserve, insisting that the commission’s operational plans had been designed to withstand unforeseen disruptions without affecting election day activities.
INEC has fixed August 15 for the Osun State governorship election, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke contesting on the Accord Party platform against Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress and other candidates. The commission says it remains committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election, while working with security agencies to safeguard the electoral process and maintain public confidence.
