Ekiti Governorship Poll: INEC Records 97.1% PVC Collection Rate, Urges Peaceful Voting

Oru Leonard 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the successful conclusion of the Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) collection exercise ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026, with over 1.02 million voters now in possession of their voter cards.

In a statement issued by the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the commission disclosed that the number of registered voters in Ekiti State increased from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026 following the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on May 15 and the subsequent clean-up of the voters’ register.

According to INEC, PVC collection also recorded an improvement, rising from 958,052 cards collected in 2023, representing a 97.0 per cent collection rate, to 1,028,929 cards in 2026, representing 97.1 per cent of registered voters.

The commission noted that the PVC collection exercise, initially scheduled to end on June 11, was extended to June 14 after consultations with stakeholders during a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.
INEC further revealed that 14,406 applications were received for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs in line with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026. It stated that all replacement cards were printed, with the majority already collected by applicants.

The electoral body explained that plans to provide downloadable copies of lost, damaged or defaced voter cards could not be implemented for the Ekiti election due to incomplete technological infrastructure. However, it assured voters that the innovation would be available for future elections, including the Osun State governorship election in August 2026 and the 2027 general elections.

The commission commended traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties and the media for their role in mobilising eligible voters to collect their PVCs and participate in the electoral process.

INEC also confirmed that all PVCs for eligible applicants, including those who transferred their registration or requested card replacements, had been printed and made available for collection. It added that a detailed breakdown of PVC collection across the state’s local government areas had been published on its website and social media platforms.

The commission urged all registered voters who have collected their PVCs to turn out peacefully on election day and exercise their democratic rights, while reaffirming its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Ekiti State.