The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 1,028,929 out of 1,059,360 registered voters in Ekiti State have collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed the figures in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja following the conclusion of the PVC collection period in the state.
According to Haruna, following the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Ekiti State on May 15 and the subsequent clean-up of the voter register, the total number of registered voters in the state increased from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.
“Similarly, the number of PVCs collected rose from 958,052 in 2023, representing a collection rate of 97.0 per cent, to 1,028,929 in 2026, representing 97.1 per cent of registered voters,” Haruna stated.
The PVC collection exercise, originally scheduled to close on June 11, was extended to June 14 following consultations with stakeholders during a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.
In line with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, the commission provided replacement PVCs for registered voters who reported their original cards as lost, damaged, or defaced. Under this arrangement, INEC received 14,406 applications within the stipulated timeframe. The commission printed all requested replacement cards, the majority of which have now been collected.
However, an initiative to provide downloadable copies of lost or damaged cards could not be deployed for this specific election.
“The option of a downloadable copy of the lost, damaged or defaced Voter Cards could not be implemented in this election because the necessary technology infrastructure for this is yet to be completed.
“The option would be available to voters in subsequent elections, especially the Osun Governorship election in August 2026 and the 2027 General Election,” Haruna explained.
The commission acknowledged the support of traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organizations, political parties, and the media in mobilizing citizens to collect their PVCs ahead of the election.
INEC confirmed that all PVCs have been printed and distributed for eligible applicants, including individuals who requested voter transfers or applied for replacements. A detailed breakdown of PVC collection statistics by Local Government Area (LGA) has been uploaded to the commission’s official website and social media platforms.
Haruna urged all registered voters who possess their PVCs to participate peacefully on election day, reiterating INEC’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, and inclusive election in Ekiti State.
