Osun Poll: 81.5% of PVCs Collected, Says INEC

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected by registered voters in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The figure represents 81.50 per cent of the 2,339,233 registered voters in the state, according to a statement issued by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee.

INEC said the remaining 432,843 PVCs, representing 18.50 per cent of registered voters, had been safely deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in line with the commission’s established practice.

The commission also disclosed that some registered voters whose PVCs were damaged, defaced or lost had applied for replacement cards.

According to INEC, 6,101 of those who applied for replacement PVCs successfully printed downloadable copies of their cards ahead of the election.

The commission said it had also published a polling-unit-by-polling-unit breakdown of the collected PVCs on its website to provide greater transparency on voter preparedness across the state.

The latest figures indicate a significant level of voter readiness as Osun prepares for the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

INEC has repeatedly assured political parties, civil society organisations, the media and voters that it is fully prepared for the election and will conduct the exercise in a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive manner.

The commission's assurance comes against the backdrop of heightened political activity and concerns over security and electoral malpractice as the major contenders conclude their campaigns ahead of polling day.

With more than 1.9 million PVCs collected, attention will now shift to voter turnout, the conduct of political parties and their supporters, the effectiveness of security arrangements and INEC's ability to ensure that votes cast are properly counted and transmitted.

INEC urged all stakeholders to support a peaceful electoral process and allow eligible voters to freely exercise their constitutional right to choose the next governor of Osun State.