By Ene Rebecca
July 26, 2026
Suspected political thugs on Sunday attacked a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution centre in Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, disrupting the exercise and reportedly taking away several packs of voter cards.
The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were distributing PVCs. According to the report, the attackers allegedly fired shots into the air, forcing residents and electoral officials to flee the area before the assailants left with the cards.
The Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police Abiodun Ojelabi, confirmed the incident. He said about 10 armed men invaded the centre and took away three packs of PVCs before fleeing. Ojelabi added that the Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, had condemned the attack and ordered a comprehensive investigation to identify and prosecute those responsible.
The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, through his Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, alleged that the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) was responsible for the attack. Egbedun described the incident as a serious threat to the electoral process and called on security agencies to conduct an immediate and impartial investigation.
The APC, however, rejected the allegation. Through the head of its campaign council’s media team, Oluremi Omowaiye, the party alleged that Egbedun himself was behind the disruption of the PVC distribution exercise and called on security agencies to investigate the matter.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, also confirmed and condemned the attack. Babalola said she was awaiting a detailed report and could not immediately confirm the exact number of PVCs taken away. She assured residents that INEC remained committed to conducting an election that would be free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent.
The incident comes amid preparations for the Osun State governorship election and has renewed attention on the security of electoral materials and the need to protect the integrity of the electoral process
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