Ekiti Governor‑Candidate Election: INEC Announces Registered Voter Count and PVC Status Update

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released an update on the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for the upcoming Ekiti State governorship election.

INEC announced that the PVC collection process in the state has been completed.

Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said that after the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on Thursday, 15 May 2026, and the subsequent cleaning of the voters’ register, the total number of registered voters in Ekiti rose from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.

The number of PVCs collected also increased, from 958,052 in 2023 (a 97.0 % collection rate) to 1,028,929 in 2026, representing 97.1 % of registered voters.

INEC noted that the PVC collection period, originally set to end on 11 June 2026, was extended to 14 June 2026 after discussions with stakeholders at a meeting in Ado‑Ekiti.

“In accordance with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires the Commission to provide replacement PVCs to registered voters who lose, damage or deface their original cards, 14,406 applications were received within the stipulated time and all 14,406 replacement PVCs were printed, most of which have been collected,” the statement added.

“The option of a downloadable copy of a lost, damaged or defaced Voter Card could not be implemented in this election because the necessary technology infrastructure is not yet complete. The option will be available to voters in future elections, including the Osun Governorship election in August 2026 and the 2027 General Election.”

“For the Ekiti State Governorship Election, all PVCs were printed and made available to all eligible applicants, including those who requested a transfer or applied for a replacement card. A detailed breakdown of PVC collection by Local Government Area (LGA) has been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms,” the statement continued.

INEC urged all registered voters who have collected their PVCs to turn out peacefully and exercise their franchise on election day.