Gunmen invade Osun PVC distribution centre, flee with voter cards

Gunmen invade Osun PVC distribution centre, flee with voter cards

Suspected armed hoodlums on Sunday attacked a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution centre in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupting the ongoing voter card collection exercise and carting away packs of voter cards in an incident that has heightened security concerns ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun governorship election.

The attack occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to eligible voters as part of preparations for the upcoming election.

Eyewitnesses said between eight and 10 armed men stormed the venue unexpectedly and fired several gunshots into the air, sending electoral officials, prospective voters and residents scrambling for safety before making away with packs of voter cards.

A resident of the community, identified simply as Gbadebo, said the attackers appeared to have entered the premises unnoticed before launching the operation.

According to him, the hoodlums headed straight to the section where INEC officials kept the voter cards after firing into the air, forcing everyone at the venue to flee in different directions.

The Osun State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that the armed attackers carted away three packs of Permanent Voter Cards before escaping.

READ ALSO:

• NDLEA intercepts ₦10bn worth of cocaine, Loud, opioids in Lagos
• Super Falcons recover stolen cash after hotel theft suspect confesses
• Accord Party, Governor Adeleke Adopt Tinubu as 2027 Presidential Candidate

In a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, the police said the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had strongly condemned the attack and ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation.

The police disclosed that tactical teams, intelligence operatives and other security personnel had been deployed to identify, arrest and prosecute all those involved, as well as recover the stolen voter cards.

The command assured residents that every available resource was being deployed to ensure those responsible were brought to justice and appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could assist investigators.

Reacting to the incident, Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Oluwatoyin Babalola, described the attack as unfortunate and condemned the disruption of the PVC distribution exercise.

She said INEC had commenced an internal assessment to determine the exact number of voter cards stolen and evaluate the impact of the incident on the ongoing distribution exercise.

The electoral commission, however, assured eligible voters that the attack would not derail preparations for the Osun governorship election, reiterating its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and transparent election.

The incident temporarily disrupted PVC collection in the affected community before normalcy was restored with the deployment of additional security personnel.

The attack comes as INEC continues the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards across Osun State ahead of the governorship election, encouraging registered voters to collect their PVCs before the deadline.

Political observers say attacks on electoral facilities and materials pose a serious threat to public confidence in the electoral process and underscore the need for stronger security around election-related activities.

Security experts also noted that while stolen PVCs alone cannot be used to manipulate election outcomes because Nigeria’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) requires biometric verification before accreditation, such incidents could discourage voter participation and undermine public trust if perpetrators are not swiftly apprehended.

The police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting electoral personnel, facilities and materials throughout the election period and urged political actors, community leaders and residents to support efforts aimed at ensuring a peaceful and violence-free electoral process.

Investigations are ongoing as security agencies intensify efforts to recover the stolen voter cards and dismantle any criminal network behind the attack.

Gunmen invade Osun PVC distribution centre, flee with voter cards