By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

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No fewer than 437,354 permanent Voters register, PVCS were yet to be collected in Osun State, the State resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke has revealed.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has taken electoral sensitisation to churches and Mosques in Osun.

Agboke noted that there are 437,354 uncollected permanent voters cards (PVCs) in Osun.

Agboke spoke at Union Baptist Church, Osogbo,  urged its congregation to take seriously the forthcoming election.

He said, “It is your civic responsibility to obtain your permanent voters card, cast your vote on the election day and monitor INEC’s declaration.

“Before you are eligible to vote, you need your PVC. In Osun State, at the moment, we have 437,354 PVCs uncollected. This number of PVCs is sufficient to make someone a governor.

The REC appealed with residents to visit the INEC offices across the 30 local government areas to collect their PVCs.

Speaking further, he debunked the rumour that INEC has included the names of underaged persons in its register.

“Nobody will rig this coming election, INEC will only declare the person you have voted as the winner of the election.

“INEC has rededicated the pattern of voting, our technology will guarantee the sacredness of your vote. Nobody can hijack your vote again with the use of BVAS,” he assured.

He promised to make available the election guidelines, stressing that the electoral act will be strictly adhered to.

Calling on religious leaders to use their platforms to properly orientate their members, he charged Osun residents not to relent after the 2022 governorship election but get ready to vote during the presidential, national assembly and house of assembly elections in 2023.

In his response, the minister-in-charge of the church, Revd. Dr Sunday Adeoye promised to cooperate with the new REC for better sensitisation of the members.