By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process through violence, intimidation or vote buying will face the full weight of the law.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the warning on Thursday in Osogbo during the signing of the Peace Accord by the 14 political parties contesting the August 15 governorship election.
The event, convened by the National Peace Committee (NPC), brought together security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and other critical stakeholders in a renewed commitment to peaceful, credible and violence-free polls.
Amupitan disclosed that the Commission had completed 11 activities on its election timetable, leaving only the end of political campaigns on August 13 and the conduct of the governorship election on August 15.
He said INEC was fully prepared for the exercise, with arrangements completed for deployment across the state’s 30 Local Government Areas and the Modakeke Area Office, covering 332 Registration Areas and 3,763 Polling Units.
According to him, the certified register contains 2,339,233 eligible voters following the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) exercise, while 322,822 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing 62 per cent of newly registered voters, had already been collected.
The INEC Chairman added that PVC collection at all Local Government offices had been extended until Friday, July 31, to enable more eligible voters obtain their cards before election day.
Expressing concern over reports of violence and threats in parts of the state, Amupitan said the Commission would not allow fear or force to undermine the democratic will of the people.
He disclosed that INEC had adopted a proactive security strategy through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), working closely with the Nigeria Police Force and the Armed Forces to ensure adequate protection for voters, election officials and electoral materials.
He warned that anyone found disrupting the election would be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
On the recent theft of uncollected PVCs in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, and Ife Central, the INEC Chairman assured voters that the stolen cards could not be used because accreditation would only be possible through live biometric verification on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He said the serial numbers of the stolen cards had been blacklisted, security agencies were closing in on the perpetrators, while affected voters would receive replacement cards or digital verification PVCs.
Amupitan revealed that the Commission had activated its Electoral Risk Management (ERM) framework to identify and monitor security threats before election day.
He listed Atakumosa East and West, Boripe, Ede North and South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun and Oriade Local Government Areas as hotspots where security presence would be significantly reinforced.
The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission had partnered with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to combat vote buying.
According to him, plain-clothes financial intelligence officers would monitor polling units, warning that anyone caught buying or selling votes through cash or electronic transfers would be prosecuted under the Electoral Act 2026.
Amupitan announced that 4,427 BVAS devices, including a 15 per cent operational reserve, had been configured for the election.
He said all polling unit results would be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) immediately after voting, while a statewide mock accreditation exercise would take place on August 1 across 12 Local Government Areas.
He added that the Commission had deployed Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, hearing-impaired information materials and priority voting arrangements for persons with disabilities, pregnant women and the elderly.
Speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the National Peace Committee, former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Cardinal John Onaiyekan urged political parties to conduct issue-based campaigns and honour the Peace Accord in both letter and spirit.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Fasuba Akinyele Olabode assured residents of adequate security throughout the election and pledged that security personnel would remain neutral.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, also called on political actors to reject violence, stressing that the peace and stability of Osun State should take precedence over partisan interests.
The Peace Accord ceremony was attended by the Osun State Governor, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), INEC National Commissioners, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations and heads of security agencies.
As part of the Commission’s final preparations, Amupitan also inspected the INEC Local Government offices in Osogbo and Ede South to assess operational readiness ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
