By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the successful conclusion of the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), revealing that about 1.6 million are expected to vote in the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Commission disclosed that the number of registered voters in the state increased from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026 following the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and the subsequent clean-up of the voters’ register.
According to INEC, a total of 1,028,929 PVCs have been collected, representing 97.1 per cent of registered voters. This marks a slight increase from the 958,052 PVCs collected in 2023, which represented a collection rate of 97.0 per cent.
The Commission recalled that the PVC collection exercise, initially scheduled to end on June 11, 2026, was extended to June 14 following consultations with stakeholders during a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.
INEC also revealed that it received 14,406 applications for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs in line with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026.
It stated that all 14,406 replacement cards were successfully printed, with the majority already collected by eligible voters.
The electoral body, however, noted that plans to introduce a downloadable version of replacement voter cards could not be implemented for the Ekiti election because the required technological infrastructure had not yet been completed.
According to the Commission, the digital replacement option is expected to be available for future elections, including the Osun State Governorship Election in August 2026 and the 2027 General Election.
INEC expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties and media organisations for their support in mobilising citizens to collect their PVCs and participate in the electoral process.
The Commission further stated that all PVCs for eligible applicants, including those who applied for transfers and replacements, were printed and made available before the election.
It added that a detailed breakdown of PVC collection by local government areas has been uploaded to its website and social media platforms.
As preparations for the election enter the final stage, INEC urged all registered voters who have collected their PVCs to turn out peacefully on election day and exercise their civic responsibility.
The Commission also reassured residents of Ekiti State of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election.
