Opposition parties raise alarm over unclaimed PVCs
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Accord Party have jointly accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to obtain unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election. In a statement issued in Osogbo and signed by Osun PDP Chairman Sunday Bisi and Accord Party Chairman Pastor Victor Akande, the parties alleged that the APC is pressuring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release thousands of unclaimed PVCs outside the legally prescribed distribution process.
Credible intelligence suggests plot to use 'imported illegal voters'
According to the parties, they received credible intelligence indicating that the cards could be handed over to individuals they described as 'imported illegal voters' who participated in the voter registration exercise. The opposition parties warned INEC against yielding to political pressure, insisting that PVC distribution must strictly follow the procedures outlined in Nigeria's Electoral Act. 'We task the commission not to succumb to such illegal conduct, as distribution of PVCs has a template which should be observed to the letter,' the statement said.
Demand for transparency from INEC
Beyond the allegation against the APC, the two parties demanded greater transparency from INEC regarding the management of unclaimed PVCs. They called on the electoral commission to publicly disclose the number of PVCs that remain uncollected once the collection window opens, stating their intention to independently verify the figures. According to them, transparent accounting of the cards is essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process. The parties further warned that any attempt to transfer unclaimed PVCs to political actors would undermine the credibility of the election and could amount to a violation of electoral laws.
Reference to Ekiti election irregularities
PDP and Accord also referenced the recent Ekiti governorship election, claiming that concerns had been raised over the handling of unclaimed PVCs during that poll. They said they would closely monitor the Osun election to prevent what they described as a repeat of those alleged irregularities. 'We notice in detail how unclaimed PVCs were exploited at the Ekiti polls. This will not be allowed in Osun elections,' the statement added.
No official response from APC or INEC
As of the time the allegations became public, neither INEC nor the APC had officially responded to the specific claims regarding the alleged plot to obtain unclaimed PVCs. The allegations come amid an increasingly tense political atmosphere in Osun State, with parties exchanging accusations ahead of the August 15 governorship election. Separately, the APC has dismissed other recent allegations by the Accord Party—including claims of plans to instigate violence and rig the election—as false and politically motivated.
