The Independent National Electoral Commission has warned that anyone involved in vote buying or any act capable of disrupting the August 15 governorship election in Osun State will face prosecution.
The warning was given on Thursday in Osogbo by the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the signing of the National Peace Committee’s Peace Accord by the 14 political parties participating in the election, alongside security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
The INEC chairman said preparations for the governorship poll were almost complete, with 11 out of the 13 activities listed in the election timetable already concluded. According to him, only the end of political campaigns on August 13 and the election itself remain before the exercise is completed.
He said the commission would deploy election officials across all 30 local government areas of the state, including the Modakeke Area Office. The deployment will cover 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units to ensure a smooth voting process.
Amupitan disclosed that the final voters’ register contains 2,339,233 eligible voters after the completion of the Automated Biometric Identification System exercise.
He added that 322,822 Permanent Voter Cards, representing 62 per cent of newly registered voters, had already been collected. To allow more people to obtain their PVCs, the commission extended the collection period at all local government offices until July 31.
The INEC chairman said the commission had adopted stronger security measures following reports of threats and violence in some parts of the state. He explained that intelligence-based operations would be carried out through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, with security personnel stationed at polling units and collation centres alongside the police and the armed forces.
He also addressed the recent theft of uncollected PVCs in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, and Ife Central.
According to him, the stolen cards cannot be used during the election because the accreditation process requires live biometric verification through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
He added that the affected cards have been blacklisted while security agencies are working to arrest those responsible. Replacement cards and digital verification options are also being provided for affected voters.
INEC further identified Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun and Oriade as areas where additional security personnel would be deployed because of security concerns.
The commission also warned against vote buying, stating that it would work with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to monitor polling units.
Plainclothes operatives will be stationed around voting centres to identify and arrest anyone involved in buying or selling votes, including transactions carried out through electronic transfers.
On election materials, Amupitan said 4,427 BVAS devices, including extra units kept as reserve, had already been configured for the poll. He also confirmed that results from every polling unit would be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal immediately after voting. In addition, a statewide mock accreditation exercise has been scheduled for August 1 across 12 local government areas.
He added that voters living with disabilities, pregnant women and elderly persons would receive special assistance on election day through the provision of Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses and priority voting arrangements.
Speaking at the event, representatives of the National Peace Committee urged political parties to honour the peace accord and conduct peaceful campaigns throughout the election period. The Nigeria Police Force also assured residents that adequate security would be provided and that officers would remain neutral during the election.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, appealed to political actors to avoid violence and put the interest of Osun State above political differences as preparations continue for the governorship election.