The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has identified 11 local government areas in Osun State as potential violence flashpoints ahead of the August 15 governorship election, and has directed security agencies to intensify surveillance to prevent any attempt to disrupt the poll.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Wednesday during the Osun Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum in Osogbo.
He said the commission has activated its Electoral Risk Management framework to detect and mitigate security threats before, during, and after the election.
According to the Chairman, INEC has mapped risk corridors across the state, identified emerging threats, and designed targeted interventions to ensure a credible and peaceful electoral process.
The identified flashpoints are: Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ila, Osogbo, Ifelodun and Oriade local government areas.
“These hotspot locations will receive specialised, high-visibility security deployments. Security forces have been issued strict operational directives to neutralise thuggery, cult activities and any attempt at ballot disruption, while maintaining absolute professional neutrality,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman also announced that the commission will conduct a mock accreditation exercise on August 1 across 12 selected local government areas to test the functionality of its election technology and overall preparedness for the governorship poll.
He disclosed that Osun currently has 2,339,233 registered voters, and that 322,822 newly registered voters have so far collected their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs.
To enable more eligible voters to participate, he said PVC collection has been extended until July 31.
Amupitan also addressed the recent attack on INEC officials and the theft of PVCs in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area.
He assured affected voters that the incident would not deny them their voting rights.
He said the serial numbers of the stolen PVCs have been permanently blacklisted on the commission’s central server, while security agencies are investigating the attack.
INEC’s Information and Communication Technology Department has also been directed to immediately reprint the stolen PVCs for affected voters.
The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, assured residents that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies, has concluded comprehensive security arrangements for the election.
Gotan said special attention would be given to the identified flashpoints through increased intelligence gathering, sustained stakeholder engagement, and deployment of additional personnel.
“The Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency in election security, is fully prepared to discharge its constitutional responsibility with professionalism, impartiality and respect for the rule of law,” he said.
He warned that anyone or group attempting to disrupt the electoral process would face the full weight of the law, irrespective of political affiliation or social status.
The police commissioner also urged political parties, candidates, and supporters to shun violence, avoid inflammatory rhetoric, and resolve grievances through lawful means.