THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a significant increase in voter registration in Ekiti State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election, with the total number of registered voters now exceeding one million.
In a statement issued yesterday by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the electoral body disclosed that the number of registered voters in the state rose from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.
INEC also reported a notable increase in the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
According to the commission, the number of collected PVCs grew from 958,052 in 2023 to 1,028,929 in 2026, representing a collection rate of approximately 97 per cent of registered voters.
The update came as the commission confirmed the successful conclusion of PVC distribution ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.
The PVC collection exercise was initially expected to end on June 11 but was extended until June 14 following consultations with stakeholders during a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.
INEC further revealed that it received 14,406 applications from voters seeking replacements for lost, damaged, or defaced voter cards, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The commission stated that all replacement cards were produced within the required timeframe, with the majority already collected by applicants.
The electoral body noted that plans to introduce downloadable versions of replacement voter cards could not be implemented for the Ekiti election because the necessary technological infrastructure is still under development.
INEC, however, assured voters that the digital replacement option is expected to be available for future polls, including the Osun State governorship election slated for August 2026 and the 2027 general elections.
The commission expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organizations, political parties, and media organizations for supporting voter mobilization efforts and encouraging residents to collect their PVCs ahead of the election.
According to INEC, all eligible applicants including new registrants, those who applied for transfers, and voters requesting replacements had their PVCs printed and made available for collection.
The commission added that a detailed breakdown of PVC collection figures across all local government areas in Ekiti State has been published on its official platforms.
As the election approaches, INEC urged voters who have obtained their PVCs to participate peacefully in the electoral process and assured residents of its readiness to conduct a transparent, credible, inclusive, and fair governorship election.
