INEC Reacts As Hoodlums Steal BVAS Devices In Osun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured Nigerians that the recent attack on one of its Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection centres in Osun State will not affect preparations for the August 15 governorship election.

According to Ireporter Online, INEC’s Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman, Dayo Oketola, disclosed that the incident has been reported to security authorities and investigations have commenced to identify those responsible.

Suspected hoodlums reportedly invaded the commission’s PVC collection centre at Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku, where they allegedly attacked officials and carted away electoral materials, including some PVCs and Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices.

Oketola expressed confidence that security agencies would successfully track down the perpetrators, recover the stolen equipment and ensure that those involved face legal consequences.

He explained that INEC would not release details that could compromise the ongoing investigation but maintained that the incident would not distract the commission from delivering a credible election.

The INEC spokesperson stated that all scheduled activities ahead of the Osun governorship poll would continue as planned, assuring residents that the election would be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.

He added that the commission was already carrying out a pre-election assessment across the state to evaluate its level of preparedness and engage relevant stakeholders ahead of the election.

Oketola further revealed that INEC had prepared 4,427 BVAS devices for the exercise, including 664 backup machines to replace any device affected by technical challenges or unforeseen incidents.

He noted that the commission had also established 97 Super Registration Area Centres and 105 Registration Area Centres across Osun State, which would become operational before the election to support the movement of personnel and sensitive materials.

The INEC official stressed that the stolen PVCs could not be used to manipulate the election, explaining that BVAS technology requires biometric verification before any voter can cast a ballot.

According to him, the introduction of biometric authentication has eliminated the possibility of individuals using another person’s identity to vote, effectively ending the era of fake or multiple voting.

Oketola also assured voters whose PVCs may have been affected by the incident that INEC would take necessary measures to ensure they are not denied their constitutional right to vote.

He stated that anyone whose name appears on the official voters’ register would still be able to participate in the election despite the reported theft of some cards.

The commission called on political parties, traditional institutions, religious bodies, community leaders and security agencies to cooperate in protecting electoral materials and facilities across the state.

INEC emphasised that collective responsibility among stakeholders would be crucial in ensuring that the Osun governorship election is conducted peacefully and in an environment where voters can confidently exercise their democratic rights.