The Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, a move the commission says will allow it to finalise data on downloaded cards and compile accurate collection statistics.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu Haruna, who chairs the Information and Voter Education Committee. INEC said the pause would enable the collation of data on PVCs downloaded by voters and the preparation of final figures on the total number of cards collected across the state.
Voters who applied for replacement cards — due to loss, damage or defacement — were told the window to print downloadable copies would close at midnight on Sunday, August 9. The commission said the deadline was necessary to capture the data of downloaded replacements for the final statistics.
Collection at the Registration Area level ran from July 22 to 28 and was extended to July 31 after voters reported overcrowding and difficulties at centres. The exercise then moved to the local government level, continuing from August 1 to 7.
INEC also disclosed that downloadable replacement PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central local government areas. Cards at collection centres in those areas were allegedly stolen by hoodlums who invaded the sites. The commission emphasised that the stolen cards could not be used to vote and urged affected voters to obtain the replacement copies within the stipulated period.
Haruna reiterated INEC’s commitment to conducting a “free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on August 15.”
In a separate decision, the commission approved an extension for political parties to submit their lists of candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections scheduled for the February 2027 general election. The original deadline of Saturday, August 8, was pushed to Tuesday, August 11, following appeals from parties for more time to complete the process.
