INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION

OSUN STATE

PRESS BRIEFING BY THE RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER, OLUSEGUN AGBAJE, MFR, mni ON 3^RD JULY, 2014 AT INEC STATE HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCE HALL, OSOGBO

Gentlemen of the Press, I am delighted to brief you this morning on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s mission which is to conduct a free, fair and credible Osun State Governorship Election that will meet the aspiration of Nigerians and the International Community on Saturday, 9^th August, 2014.

Accordingly, on assumption of office in the State on 1^st July, 2014, I swiftly swung into action by examining the level of preparedness towards the conduct of the Election by my Predecessor.  So far, a lot had been put in place on the part of the Commission towards the accomplishment of success in the 9^th August, 2014 Governorship Election in Osun State.

These include:

The Distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs);

The Continuous Voters Registration Exercise;

Stakeholders Meetings;

Inter and Intra State Transfer of Voters’ Cards;

Courtesy visits to designated persons and institutions;

Display of List of Nominated candidates for Osun State Gubernatorial Election, among others.

As we speak, seven hundred and eighty thousand four hundred and sixty-four (780,464) Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) have been distributed out of one million two hundred and fifty-six thousand five hundred and sixty-nine (1,256,569) PVCs received as at 27^th June, 2014, representing 62.11% of total PVCs received in the State.  Also a total of one hundred and forty nine thousand, eight hundred and eighty five (149,885) eligible voters were registered during the CVR exercise between 12^th and 17^th March, 2014.  As at today, the total number of registered Voters in the State stands as follows:

Pre CVR:  one million two hundred and fifty-six thousand five hundred and sixty-nine (1,256,569);

CVR:  One hundred and forty-nine thousand eight hundred and eighty-five (149,885);

Total number of Registered Voters in the State: One million four hundred and six thousand four hundred and fifty-four (1,406,454).

Arrangements for the distribution of the PVCs of those who registered during the CVR exercise have been concluded and would be given to them as soon as they are received by the State office.  It is important to stress at this juncture that only the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) would be used to vote during the 9^th August, 2014 Governorship Election, simply put “No PVC, No Voting”.

Let me also use this opportunity to inform you that after the display of the list of Nominated Candidates by Political Parties for Osun State Governorship Election on Monday 16^th June, 2014, the Action Alliance (AA) has changed her Governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates from Hon. Adeyinka Adeoye and Akintobi Akintade respectively to Babatunde Oralusi as Governorship candidate and Hon. Adekunle Rufai as Deputy Governorship candidate.

It is very important to further re-assure our people in Osun State that the Commission is determined more than ever before to conduct a very free, fair, and credible Governorship election on 9^th August, 2014 in the State. To This end, the cooperation and support of all critical Stakeholders is highly solicited if we must achieve this very important goal. Political Party leaders are enjoined to caution their followers to play politics by the rules and eschew politics with bitterness. This will go a long way in creating the enabling peaceful environment needed for the conduct of a very free, fair credible and acceptable Governorship election in Osun State.

Relatedly, the efforts of the media in encouraging peaceful campaigns by the various Political Parties and their candidates would further assist in achieving a credible poll in the State.  The Commission would robustly intensify its voter education campaigns  across the State and the media, Political Parties and their candidates, traditional and   religious institutions, the Civil Society groups and other friendly  establishments like the National Orientation Agency, Federal Information Department, etc are hereby enjoined to partner with INEC in this regard.

The consequences of failure in this exercise are too grave that it should not even be contemplated.  Simply put, “INEC and other Stakeholders cannot afford to fail”.  We appreciate this is another integrity test for INEC and everything desirable is being done by the Chairman and the Commission to ensure that we meet the aspirations of Osun State people in particular and Nigerians as well as the International Community in general.

By the grace of God and with the cooperation of the good people of Osun State, other Stakeholders and our amiable media friends, we expect to have a very successful election on the 9^th of August, 2014 in the State.

Thank You For Your Attention.

3^RD JULY, 2014.