ZLP raises alarm over PVC security ahead of Osun election

Ahead of the upcoming August election in Osun State, the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) candidate, Engr. John Olufemi Adesuyi, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide adequate security for all Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection centres across the state.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Tuesday, Adesuyi said the appeal had become urgent following the carting away of PVCs from a collection centre in Odo-Otin Local Government Area on Sunday.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Adesuyi urged the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, to collaborate closely with security agencies to secure the voter cards and prevent eligible voters from being disenfranchised.

According to him, the safety of PVCs and collection materials is critical to maintaining the credibility of the electoral process.

“We cannot afford a situation where voters who have done the right thing by registering are denied their cards due to negligence or criminal activities,” Adesuyi said.

He further called for the immediate deployment of security personnel to all INEC offices and designated collection points, particularly in rural areas.

“The Odo-Otin incident should serve as a wake-up call. If one centre can be compromised, others remain vulnerable,” the ZLP candidate warned.

Reaffirming the party’s dedication to a peaceful electoral process, Adesuyi said, “We are calling on the REC to act now. Safeguard our PVC collection centres. Protect the votes, protect democracy. The people of Osun deserve nothing less.”

This comes on the heels of an earlier announcement by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, detailing a two-phase distribution exercise.

The schedule, according to her, is designed to cater to voters who registered, applied for transfers, requested replacements for lost or damaged cards, or updated their records during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

Babalola said the PVCs would first be distributed across the state’s 332 Registration Areas from July 22 to July 28 before distribution moved to INEC Local Government Area offices from July 29 to August 7.