The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, has stated that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) system exposed over voting in the Osun 2022 gubernatorial election.
Agboke further refuted allegations that the BVAS was utilized for voting.
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This new reaction follows the Friday verdict of the Osun guber election petition tribunal, which determined that there was excessive voting during the Osun 2022 guber election.
While noting that the BVAS machine was only used for voter accreditation, the Osun INEC chief stated that the shortcomings highlighted will ensure that the votes of Osun residents are counted during the general elections.
Agboke revealed this during a Tuesday visit to Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo.
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“Some persons did purposely skip the BVAS verification due to corrupt politicians and the collusion of INEC adhoc workers,” he claims.
“The Electoral Act, 2020, envisaged that there may be over voting and the BVAS highlighted the fraud. We’re going to shine our searchlights on our ad hoc team.”
Agboke encouraged the monarch to persuade his subjects to obtain Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).
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He revealed that approximately 13,000 PVCs had gone uncollected in Iwo Local Government.
“The traditional institution is one of the pillars of success for INEC, so we need to pay homage.
“We have been delivering the message to the traditional rulers to help inform their subjects to collect their PVCs because no PVC, no vote.
“Oluwo should help INEC talk to politicians because elections aren’t just about fighting. “Only candidates who are voted for will be proclaimed winners,” he stated.
Agboke, who also warned that INEC adhoc staff who connived with politicians to bypass the BVAS accreditation during the general elections would be dealt with, urged the electorates to be cautious and report any case of infraction.
“People should open their eyes very well on election day and incase of any infraction, INEC should be contacted. “Any ad hoc staff member who sabotages the process will face jail time,” he warned.
In his response, Oba Akanbi counselled the INEC to beam its searchlight on their adhoc staff.
While recommending punishment for any errant adhoc staff, Oba Akanbi urged Agboke to warn his staff against sabotaging the electoral process.
“Let us punish any INEC official found wanting and aiding and abetting rigging. They should be loyal to this country because Nigeria will be better,” he said.
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