The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the successful conclusion of the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) collection exercise ahead of the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026, revealing that more than 1.02 million registered voters have collected their cards.
In a statement released by the Commission, INEC disclosed that the number of registered voters in Ekiti State increased significantly following the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on May 15, 2026, and the subsequent clean-up of the voters’ register.
According to the Commission, the number of registered voters rose from 987,647 recorded in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026. The PVC collection rate also witnessed a marginal increase, with 1,028,929 cards collected, representing 97.1 per cent of registered voters, compared to 958,052 cards collected in 2023, which translated to a 97.0 per cent collection rate.
INEC noted that the PVC collection exercise, initially scheduled to end on June 11, 2026, was extended by three days to June 14 following consultations with stakeholders during a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.
The electoral body also provided an update on applications for replacement voter cards. In line with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates the Commission to provide replacement PVCs for voters whose cards were lost, damaged or defaced, INEC said it received 14,406 applications within the stipulated period.
The Commission confirmed that all 14,406 replacement PVCs were successfully printed, adding that the majority of the cards had already been collected by their owners before the close of the exercise.
INEC further explained that its planned option of providing downloadable copies of lost, damaged or defaced voter cards could not be deployed for the Ekiti governorship election because the required technology infrastructure had not yet been completed.
However, the Commission assured voters that the innovation would be introduced in future elections, particularly the Osun State Governorship Election slated for August 2026 and the 2027 General Election.
The Commission expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties and members of the media for supporting voter mobilisation efforts and encouraging eligible voters to collect their PVCs ahead of the election.
INEC stated that all PVCs were printed and made available to eligible applicants, including voters who applied for transfers and those seeking replacement cards. It added that a comprehensive breakdown of PVC collection figures across the state’s 16 local government areas had been uploaded to its website and social media platforms.
