There was panic in Okuku, the headquarters of Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, on Sunday, after armed hoodlums invaded an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collection centre and snatched voter cards.
The incident occurred at the Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku, where INEC officials were distributing PVCs to eligible voters.
Sources said about 10 armed hoodlums stormed the centre, fired sporadically into the air to disperse residents and fled with an unspecified number of PVCs.
Reacting to the incident, the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, condemned the attack, saying the commission is awaiting a detailed report before determining the exact number of stolen PVCs.
“As I speak to you, I am waiting for the report of the attack. I cannot say the figure of PVCs that were taken away. We want to ascertain the number,” she said.
Babalola, however, reassured residents that the commission remains committed to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election.
The Osun State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed that INEC officials were attacked while peacefully distributing PVCs.
He said about 10 armed thugs fired shots into the air before carting away three packs of Permanent Voter Cards from the collection centre.
The police said efforts were underway to apprehend those responsible and recover the stolen PVCs.
“The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, has condemned the incident in its entirety and has directed a comprehensive investigation with a view to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting all those responsible. Tactical and intelligence assets have been deployed, and efforts have been intensified to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen PVCs.”
The Osun State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Adewale Egbedun through his Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu in a statement fingered the opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) for perpetrating the invasion.
He described the incident as a grave assault on Nigeria’s democracy and the sanctity of the electoral process, warning that any attempt to intimidate voters, compromise electoral materials or manipulate the democratic process poses a serious threat to free and fair elections and must not be tolerated.
He called on the relevant security agencies to launch an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the incident, identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice in accordance with the law.
- Media Report