Osun Gubernatorial Race Heats Up: INEC Reveals Crucial PVC Collection Figures
INEC reports 37.5% PVC collection in Osun State, with 192,702 cards retrieved ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola, urged eligible voters to collect their cards during the ongoing exercise.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has reported that 37.5 per cent of available Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected by eligible voters. This disclosure was made by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, during the Osun Citizens’ Town Hall Meeting held in Osogbo, the state capital. A total of 192,702 PVCs have been collected so far, out of the cards available for distribution, in anticipation of the upcoming governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026.
Babalola emphasized the critical importance of collecting PVCs ahead of the election and urged eligible voters who have not yet done so to participate in the ongoing exercise. The distribution of PVCs commenced on July 22 across the 332 Registration Areas within the state and is slated to continue until July 28. Following this initial phase, the collection exercise will transition to INEC’s Local Government Area offices, where it will run from July 29 to August 7. The REC confirmed that the collection process is operational daily, including on weekends, with specified hours from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The current PVC distribution covers a broad spectrum of voters. This includes individuals who registered during the most recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, those who transferred their registration, applicants for the replacement of lost or damaged cards, and voters who updated their personal information. Furthermore, uncollected PVCs from previous registration exercises are also being made available to their rightful owners during this period. Babalola reiterated his call for all eligible voters to collect their cards within the designated timeframe to ensure their participation in the democratic process.
In closing, the REC provided an assurance to the residents of Osun State, reaffirming INEC’s unwavering commitment to conducting an election that is free, fair, credible, inclusive, and transparent. The governorship election in Osun State is firmly set for August 15, 2026, marking a significant event in the state’s political calendar.