Osun 2026: Over 360,000 PVCs uncollected — INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has expressed concern over the backlog of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), which currently stands at 360,794.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the state, Dr Mutiu Agboke, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists on Wednesday in Osogbo. He said the state currently has 1,954,800 registered voters on its roll.

Agboke called on stakeholders, including media practitioners and civic groups, to assist in mobilising eligible voters not only to register for their PVCs but also to collect them promptly.

He announced that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise would begin with online registration from 18 August 2025, while in-person registration will follow from 25 August 2025 across all 30 local government INEC offices in the state, including the Area Office at Modakeke.

“For the online registration, prospective voters are to visit www.cvr.inecnigeria.org, complete the form, and then visit the nearest INEC office for biometric capture, which includes facial recognition and fingerprint scanning,” he explained.

“The physical CVR will take place daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., starting 25 August, 2025, and it is entirely free. No INEC official is authorised to request money from any registrant.”

Agboke further revealed that the official notice for the 2026 Osun State Governorship Election will be issued and posted at all INEC offices across the state on 13 August 2025. He advised stakeholders to familiarise themselves with the full election timetable, which has been published by the Commission’s headquarters, in order to monitor each stage of the process effectively.

“We need your cooperation in spreading the word about this CVR exercise to eligible citizens. The number of uncollected PVCs in Osun is worrisome, and we appeal to the public to take the collection seriously. As it stands, no PVC means no voting,” he said.

Agboke also urged journalists and the public to help reinforce the Commission’s stance against vote buying, electoral violence, and other irregularities that undermine the integrity of elections.

“I appeal to you all to remain committed and principled in your roles as major players in the electoral process. Let us work together to preserve the values that underpin free and fair elections,” he said.

He concluded by encouraging full adherence to the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC Guidelines, and Election Manuals, which he said are crucial to ensuring peaceful and credible polls.