Aminu Salisu SodangiThe National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, has charged traditional rulers in Osun State to call politicians to order with a view to ensuring peace before, during and after the August 15 governorship election.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji at his palace on Friday, he said the commission has plans to introduce downloadable and printable Permanent Voter Cards for Osun State voters whose PVCs were snatched.
The INEC Chairman stressed the need for traditional rulers to intervene and call political actors to order with a view to dousing the tension in the state.
“You are the custodian of our heritage, and your voices count a lot. Invite the principal actors and talk to them, and let them know that we are one and an election should not divide us. Please intervene for the overall good of everyone,” he told Oba Oyetunji.
Prof. Amupitan said the technology, which was introduced recently that allow voters to download and print PVC will be deployed for the first time in the Osun election to ensure no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
He explained that the stolen PVCs would not be useful to those who took them, noting that no one would be allowed to vote without proper accreditation.
“For the PVCs that have been snatched, it will not be useful for those that snatched them. We are introducing downloadable, printable PVCs for those whose PVCs were stolen so that they will not be disenfranchised.
“From today, we are commencing the distribution of the downloadable PVCs,” he stated.
On the preparedness for the poll, Prof. Amupitan said the commission is putting mechanisms in place to ensure that the election is peaceful, timely and transparent.
“The election is successful if it is peaceful, the logistics are right, it starts on time and ends on time, and if the result management is very effective, efficient, transparent, and results are announced on time,” he said.
He acknowledged that political tension in Osun is high, but assured that the Commission is working with security agencies to guarantee peace.
“Right from Abuja, we are working with the police, the Minister of Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, and service chiefs to ensure special deployment for Osun State so that the election will be peaceful. We don’t want violence,” he said.
