Ekiti Poll: INEC Announces 1.06 Million Eligible Voters, Says 97% Have Collected PVCs

Two days to the Ekiti State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 1,059,360 registered voters are eligible to participate in the poll, while over 97 per cent of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected across the state.

The commission said 1,028,929 PVCs have been collected by registered voters, representing 97.1 per cent of the electorate, a development it described as a major boost to voter participation ahead of Saturday’s election.

INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

According to the electoral body, the figure follows the completion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and subsequent clean-up of the voter register, which increased the number of registered voters in Ekiti State from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.

The commission noted that the PVC collection exercise, initially scheduled to end on June 11, was extended by three days to June 14 after consultations with stakeholders, enabling more eligible voters to obtain their cards before the election.

INEC also revealed that it processed 14,406 requests for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs, adding that all replacement cards were printed and made available for collection.

The electoral umpire said plans to introduce downloadable voter cards could not be implemented for the Ekiti governorship election due to pending technological requirements.

However, it assured Nigerians that the innovation would be deployed in future elections, including the Osun State governorship election scheduled for August 2026 and the 2027 general elections.

As part of efforts to ensure transparency, the commission said detailed PVC collection figures for all 16 local government areas in the state have been published on its official website and social media platforms.

INEC commended traditional rulers, civil society organisations, political parties, community leaders and the media for supporting voter education and mobilisation efforts across the state.

The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting a credible, peaceful and inclusive election, urging all eligible voters who have collected their PVCs to turn out and exercise their civic responsibility.

Saturday’s governorship election is expected to serve as a key test of the country’s electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general elections, with political parties intensifying campaigns in the final hours before the vote.