The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State by one day, giving eligible voters until Friday, July 31, to collect their cards ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, announced the extension on Wednesday during the Osun Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum in Osogbo.
He said the commission remains fully prepared to conduct a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
Over 322,000 New Voters Collect PVCs
Amupitan disclosed that 322,822 newly registered voters, representing about 62 per cent of those who registered during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, had collected their PVCs.
He urged those yet to pick up their voter cards to use the extension, stressing that PVCs remain the only requirement for voting on election day.
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The INEC chairman also announced that the commission would conduct a mock accreditation exercise on Saturday, August 1, in selected local government areas to test the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) before the election.
INEC says Preparations Almost Complete
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Oluwatoyin Babalola, said the commission had concluded most of its preparations for the poll.
She said the number of registered voters in the state had risen from 1,954,800 to 2,339,233 following the recent voter registration exercise.
According to her, all 3,763 BVAS devices for the election have been configured and fully charged, while 1,328 backup machines have been deployed for emergencies.
Babalola added that non-sensitive election materials had already been distributed to local government offices, while sensitive materials remain secured at the Central Bank of Nigeria in Osogbo.
She said training for ad hoc staff would take place between July 31 and August 9, adding that the commission had identified potential flashpoints and shared intelligence with security agencies to ensure adequate security during the election.
Warning Against Electoral Offences
Also speaking, the Supervising National Commissioner for Osun State, Kunle Ajayi, described the governorship election as a key test of Nigeria’s democracy.
He said INEC had strengthened logistics, voter education, technology and personnel training to improve the credibility of the exercise.
Ajayi warned political parties and their supporters against vote buying, voter intimidation, hate speech and other electoral offences, stressing that anyone found guilty would face prosecution under the Electoral Act.
He also urged security agencies, civil society organisations and the media to remain impartial throughout the election.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is seeking a second term in the August 15 election and will face candidates from 14 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.