The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released fresh details on voter registration and Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection for the upcoming Ekiti State governorship election. According to a statement from Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the total number of registered voters in the state has climbed to 1,059,360 as of 2026, up from 987,647 recorded in 2023. This increase followed the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on May 15, 2026, and subsequent cleaning of the voter register.
INEC further reported that PVC collection has also risen significantly. In 2023, 958,052 PVCs were collected, representing a 97.0% rate. As of 2026, the number of collected cards has grown to 1,028,929, which translates to 97.1% of all registered voters. The commission initially set the PVC collection deadline for June 11, 2026, but after consultations with stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti, it extended the period to June 14, 2026, to ensure more eligible voters could obtain their cards.
Regarding replacement PVCs, INEC noted that Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 mandates the commission to provide new cards to voters whose original PVCs are lost, damaged, or defaced. A total of 14,406 replacement applications were received within the stipulated timeframe, and all corresponding PVCs were printed. The majority of these replacement cards have already been collected. However, the commission stated that a digital downloadable copy of voter cards could not be implemented for this election due to incomplete technology infrastructure. This option is expected to be available for future elections, starting with the Osun governorship election in August 2026 and the 2027 general election.
INEC emphasized that all PVCs—including those for transfers and replacements—were printed and made accessible to eligible applicants. A detailed breakdown of PVC collection by Local Government Area (LGA) has been published on the commission’s official website and social media channels. The commission urged all registered voters who have collected their PVCs to turn out peacefully and exercise their right to vote on election day.