Suspected political thugs on Sunday attacked a Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC) distribution centre in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupting the exercise and carting away voter cards ahead of the state’s governorship election.
The attack occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were distributing PVCs to eligible voters.
Eyewitnesses said about 10 armed hoodlums stormed the centre, fired sporadically into the air, causing panic among residents and election officials before fleeing with packs of PVCs. While initial reports indicated that two packs were stolen, the Osun State Police Command later confirmed that three packs of voter cards were carted away.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, condemned the attack and directed a comprehensive investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The incident has sparked political accusations, with the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adewale Egbedun, through his Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the attack.
Egbedun described the invasion as a grave assault on Nigeria’s democracy and the electoral process, warning that attempts to intimidate voters or compromise electoral materials pose a serious threat to free and fair elections. He called on security agencies to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The APC, however, denied the allegation and accused Egbedun of sponsoring hoodlums to disrupt the PVC distribution exercise.
The party’s campaign council spokesperson, Oluremi Omowaiye, alleged that the Speaker recruited thugs to attack the collection centre and urged security agencies to investigate those involved.
Meanwhile, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, confirmed and condemned the attack, saying the commission was awaiting a full report to determine the exact number of PVCs stolen.
She assured residents that INEC remained committed to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent election despite the incident.
