1.266 million PVCs colleced in Osun – INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 1,266, 587 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) have so far been collected in Osun.

Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) disclosed this while featuring at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Correspondents’ Chapel programme tagged ‘ News Point’ on Tuesday in Osogbo.

Agbaje said the figure represented 75.38 per cent of total PVCs in the state.

He said out of 1,680,498 registered voters, the commission had received 1,680, 193 PVCS from INEC headquarters.

The REC, however, said that 413,606 PVCs were still uncollected, representing 24.62 per cent.

He said the uncollected PVCs would be kept at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Osogbo.

On the preparedness of INEC in the state, Agbaje said the commission had put necessary measures in place to ensure free and fair elections.

He said food vendors might not be allowed at polling units to avoid vote buying and selling.

Agbaje said this was necessary to prevent politicians from using foods to entice the electorate to sell their votes.

He also said that phones and cameras would not also be allowed at the cubicles during the voting process.

Agbaje said the state had 3,010 polling units, 332 registration areas, 39 LGAs and 753 voting points.

“We have done everything to ensure peaceful and credible elections.

“We only appeal to our politicians to play by the rules of the game and also for our youths not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs,’’ Agbaje said.