Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has urged residents not to sell their permanent voter cards (PVCs) ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The call is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.

Mr Adeleke alleged an ongoing coordinated and illegal operation by opposition elements to buy voter cards and extract their personal identification numbers (PINs) to disenfranchise voters.

He warned against what he described as anti-democratic activities aimed at compromising the voter register and manipulating the outcome of the poll.

The governor said reports from across local government areas indicated that some agents were inducing residents with money to part with their PVCs.

He urged residents to safeguard their cards and resist any attempt to sell them.

“Opposition agents are extracting PINs on voter cards through monetary inducement, targeting areas with strong support for our party,” he said.

Mr Adeleke described the development as criminal and a violation of the Electoral Act, calling on the electoral body to investigate the allegations.

“I urge the electoral body not to look the other way. We have reports of possible insider collusion, which are being investigated.

“Any link between the extraction of PINs and manipulation of the voting process is a serious concern. We expect the electoral body to act,” he said.

He reiterated that PVCs remain the citizens’ means of exercising their democratic right to vote and choose their leaders.

(NAN)