Ekiti Decides 2026: INEC Records 97% PVC Collection as Over 1 Million Voters Prepare for Governorship Election

Ekiti Decides 2026: INEC Records 97% PVC Collection as Over 1 Million Voters Prepare for Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the successful conclusion of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection exercise ahead of the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026.

According to the electoral body, voter registration in the state has witnessed significant growth, with the number of registered voters increasing 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.

INEC revealed that 1,028,929 PVCs have been collected, representing 97.1% of registered voters, a slight increase from the 97.0% collection rate recorded in 2023. The PVC collection exercise was extended from June 11 to June 14 after consultations with stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti.

The Commission also disclosed that 14,406 applications for replacement PVCs due to loss, damage, or defacement were received and successfully processed, with all replacement cards printed and most already collected.

However, INEC noted that the planned introduction of a downloadable digital copy of voter cards could not be implemented for the Ekiti election because the required technology infrastructure is not yet fully in place. The innovation is expected to debut during the Osun Governorship Election in August 2026 and later in the 2027 General Elections.

INEC commended traditional rulers, community leaders, political parties, civil society groups, and the media for encouraging voter participation. The Commission urged all eligible voters who have collected their PVCs to turn out peacefully and exercise their democratic rights, reaffirming its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, and inclusive election in Ekiti State.