The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected by registered voters in Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The figure represents 81.50 per cent of the 2,339,233 registered voters in the State, leaving 426,842 PVCs yet to be collected, according to the electoral commission.
INEC made the disclosure on Thursday, August 13, 2026, just two days before voters in Osun go to the polls to elect the next Governor of the State. The Commission said the uncollected cards had been securely deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in accordance with its established procedures.
The latest PVC figures provide an indication of the number of registered voters who have completed the collection process ahead of an election that has generated considerable political interest across the State.
INEC Gives PVC Breakdown
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed the figures in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the Commission, Osun has a total of 2,339,233 registered voters for the 2026 governorship election. Of that number, 1,906,390 voters had collected their PVCs as of the latest update.
INEC said the collected cards account for 81.50 per cent of the registered voter population, while the remaining 426,842 cards, representing 18.50 per cent, had not been collected.
The Commission explained that the uncollected PVCs were not left at election offices but had been moved into safe custody at the CBN.
The arrangement, INEC said, is part of its established practice for safeguarding uncollected voter cards.
The Commission also disclosed that some registered voters whose PVCs were damaged, defaced or lost had applied for replacement cards.
A total of 6,101 applicants in that category printed downloadable copies of their PVCs, according to the electoral body.
INEC added that a detailed breakdown showing the PVCs collected at individual polling units had been published on its website, providing stakeholders with access to the distribution of collected cards across the State.
Election Holds Saturday
The PVC figures come as Osun prepares for the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
INEC said it was fully prepared for the election and assured political parties, civil society organisations, the media and residents of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive poll.
The Commission’s assurance comes at a crucial stage of preparations, with political parties and their supporters entering the final hours before voting begins.
The election is expected to attract attention because of the political competition surrounding the governorship race and the importance of Osun in Nigeria’s political landscape.
With voting only days away, INEC’s publication of the PVC collection figures also gives voters and other stakeholders a clearer picture of the number of registered voters who have obtained the cards required for participation in the electoral process.
PVC collection for the election had earlier been organised across the State’s registration areas and subsequently at INEC’s local government offices.
The Commission began the latest collection exercise at the Registration Area level on July 22, following an announcement by the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola. The exercise was initially scheduled to run until July 28 before being extended to accommodate voters who had experienced difficulties collecting their cards.
The collection exercise subsequently continued at INEC’s local government offices through early August, giving eligible voters additional opportunities to obtain their PVCs before election day.
Security Agencies Step Up Preparations
Alongside INEC’s electoral preparations, security agencies have also intensified arrangements ahead of the poll.
The Nigeria Police Force has announced plans to deploy at least four officers to each of Osun’s 3,673 polling units.
The deployment covers the State’s 30 local government areas and 332 wards and forms part of what police authorities described as a major security operation for the election.
The police deployment is expected to work alongside personnel from other security agencies involved in the election, with authorities seeking to prevent violence, intimidation and other forms of electoral malpractice.
Security arrangements have become an important part of the final preparations as political parties and their supporters conclude campaigns and mobilise voters for Saturday’s exercise.
The scale of the deployment also reflects the importance attached to maintaining order at polling units and ensuring that voters can exercise their franchise without fear.
Stakeholders Await Osun Poll
With 1.9 million PVCs already collected, attention is now shifting from voter-card collection to the conduct of the election itself.
The figure does not mean that all registered voters who collected their cards will necessarily turn out to vote. Actual turnout will depend on several factors, including voters’ willingness to participate, prevailing security conditions and developments on election day.
Similarly, the 426,842 uncollected PVCs represent registered voters who, based on INEC’s figures, are currently outside the group that has completed the card-collection process.
The election will therefore be closely watched not only for its eventual winner but also for voter participation, the performance of electoral officials, security agencies and the overall credibility of the process.
INEC’s publication of polling-unit-level PVC collection data is also significant because it provides political parties, observers and other stakeholders with a more detailed picture of voter-card distribution across the State.
The Commission has continued to urge stakeholders to cooperate with its officials and respect the rules governing the election.
As Osun enters the final stretch before voting, the electoral body is maintaining that its preparations are on course and that all necessary arrangements are being made for voters to cast their ballots.
For the electorate, Saturday’s election will ultimately put the preparations to the test as voters across the State’s 30 local government areas decide who will lead Osun for the next political term.
The 1,906,390 collected PVCs represent the immediate pool of registered voters who have obtained their cards, while the remaining cards remain in secure custody.
INEC is now expected to focus on the final logistical and operational stages of the election, including the deployment of personnel and materials to polling units.
The Commission’s latest statement therefore marks another major milestone in preparations for the Osun governorship election, with the State just hours away from the commencement of voting.
As political parties await the verdict of the electorate, INEC has reiterated its commitment to delivering an election that meets the expectations of voters and other stakeholders.
The Osun governorship election is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 15, 2026.