Osun PDP, Accord Caution INEC Against Alleged Improper Release of PVCs
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
The Osun State chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Accord Party have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure transparency in the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the August 15 governorship election in the state.
The two parties alleged that there were attempts by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to secure access to unclaimed PVCs and warned the electoral commission against any action that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
In a joint statement issued in Osogbo on Sunday, the Osun PDP Chairman, Hon. Sunday Bisi, and the Osun Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, called on INEC to strictly adhere to established procedures for the distribution of voter cards.
The party leaders alleged that information available to them indicated that some APC members were mounting pressure on the electoral body to release PVCs in bulk.
“We have it on good authority that the Osun APC is pressuring the electoral commission to release some PVCs for their imported illegal voters. We task the commission not to succumb to such illegal conduct, as distribution of PVCs has a template which should be observed to the letter,” the statement said.
The parties maintained that only registered voters should be allowed to collect their voter cards and warned against releasing unclaimed PVCs to any political group.
“Those who registered as voters should show up to claim their voter cards. Under no circumstances should the commission hand over thousands of PVCs to the APC as allegedly being planned. If this is really on the table, the commission should stop it. It is illegal and against the letters of the Electoral Act,” they stated.
The PDP and Accord further called for transparency in the handling of unclaimed PVCs, saying they would engage INEC on the exact number of voter cards yet to be collected.
“We also remind the electoral commission and other stakeholders that unclaimed PVCs must be transparently handled. On our own part, we plan to engage the electoral commission on the exact numbers of unclaimed PVCs. We have our data for comparative discussion,” the statement added.
The parties also referenced the recent governorship election in Ekiti State, expressing concerns over the management of unclaimed voter cards and urging INEC to make available relevant data when PVC collection begins in Osun.
“We noticed in detail how unclaimed PVCs were exploited at the Ekiti polls. This will not be allowed in Osun elections. We therefore task the electoral body to transparently provide data on the Osun PVCs when the collection process commences,” the party chairmen said.
They warned that any attempt to compromise the electoral process through the handling of PVCs would be strongly resisted.
“Any attempt to provide Osun APC with illegal access to the unclaimed PVCs will be resisted. We will not allow the integrity of the electoral process to be compromised,” the statement concluded.