The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for eligible voters in Osun State, assuring residents that the outcome of the August 15 governorship election will be decided through ballots, not violence.
The commission announced that the PVC collection exercise, initially scheduled to end earlier, has now been extended until Friday, July 31, to enable more registered voters to obtain their cards ahead of the election.
INEC said the decision followed complaints from voters and the large turnout recorded at registration centres across the state. As of Tuesday, 322,822 voters, representing about 60 per cent of newly registered voters, had collected their PVCs.
The electoral body reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a credible, peaceful and transparent election, stressing that it would not allow intimidation or violence to determine the outcome of the poll.
“The ballot box, and not the bullet, will determine the outcome of the forthcoming Osun State governorship election,” the commission stated, adding that the will of the electorate would be protected throughout the electoral process.
INEC urged all eligible voters who are yet to collect their PVCs to take advantage of the extension, noting that possession of the card remains a mandatory requirement for voting on election day. The commission also appealed to political parties, candidates and supporters to conduct their activities peacefully and in accordance with the Electoral Act.
