The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 1,028,929 registered voters in Ekiti State have obtained their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The figure was disclosed on Wednesday in Abuja by Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, following the completion of the PVC distribution exercise across the state.
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According to Haruna, the number of registered voters in Ekiti increased significantly after the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ended on May 15 and the voter register underwent further updates and verification.
He stated that the voter population rose from 987,647 recorded in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026. Likewise, PVC collection increased from 958,052 voters in 2023 to 1,028,929, representing a collection rate of 97.1 per cent.
Haruna noted that the PVC collection exercise, initially scheduled to conclude on June 11, was extended by three days to June 14 following consultations with political parties and other stakeholders during a meeting in Ado-Ekiti.
The commissioner also revealed that INEC made provisions for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced voter cards in accordance with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
He explained that the commission received 14,406 applications for replacement PVCs within the approved timeframe, adding that all eligible cards were produced and most beneficiaries had already collected them.
Haruna said plans to introduce downloadable digital copies of replacement voter cards could not be implemented for the Ekiti election because the required technological infrastructure is still being developed.
However, he assured voters that the innovation is expected to be available for future elections, including the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 2026 and the 2027 general elections.
The INEC official expressed appreciation to traditional institutions, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties and media organisations for encouraging eligible voters to collect their PVCs and participate in the electoral process.
He further confirmed that all PVCs for eligible applicants, including those who applied for voter transfers and card replacements, had been produced and distributed.
Haruna added that a comprehensive breakdown of PVC collection across the state’s local government areas has been published on INEC’s official website and social media platforms.
He urged residents who have collected their PVCs to conduct themselves peacefully and exercise their voting rights during the election.
Reaffirming the commission’s commitment, Haruna assured the people of Ekiti that INEC remains focused on delivering a transparent, credible, inclusive and violence-free governorship election.
NAN
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