The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, on Friday said voters cards, which were recently carted away by hoodlums in Okuku, Odo Otin Local Government Area and Akarabata, in Modakeke Area Office, would be replaced with downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

 

He described as futile any plan by those who allegedly perpetrated the stealing of the PVCs and other electoral materials to use them during August 15 governorship polls in Osun State.

 

Speaking during his visit to palace of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji,

Amupitan disclosed that the technology, which was introduced recently, will be used for the first time in order to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.

 

“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, “he stated.

 

While explaining that INEC would commence the distribution of the downloadable PVCs today (Friday), Amupitan assured that the umpire

was putting mechanism 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 averred.

 

“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 posited.

 

The INEC boss, however, sued for the intervention of traditional rulers in the state to prevail on political gladiators with a view eschew violence and other inimical acts capable of threatening the conduct of credible and peaceful polls.

 

Amupitan stated: “You are the custodian of our heritage, and your voice counts 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.”

 

In his remark, Oba Oyetunji tasked commission to conduct a credible election, stressing that “you have been doing well, and I want to urge you to please ensure a fair, free and credible election.”