Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive election materials across Ekiti State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election and the scheduled senatorial and federal constituency by-elections.
The distribution exercise began at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Ado Ekiti, where INEC officials were seen sorting and dispatching election materials to the state’s 16 local government areas.
The atmosphere at the venue was busy as electoral officials coordinated logistics while security personnel maintained a strong presence to ensure the smooth movement of materials.
Speaking on the exercise, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, expressed satisfaction with the process, assuring residents that all sensitive materials would be delivered to their designated locations on schedule.
Meanwhile, INEC has announced an increase in the number of registered voters in the state ahead of the election.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the number of registered voters in Ekiti rose from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.
The commission also disclosed that Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection improved significantly, increasing from 958,052 in 2023 to 1,028,929 in 2026. This represents a PVC collection rate of 97.0 per cent and covers 97.1 per cent of registered voters.
INEC noted that it had “successfully” concluded the PVC collection exercise ahead of the governorship election slated for Saturday, June 20, 2026.
The commission recalled that the PVC collection exercise, initially scheduled to end on June 11, was extended to June 14 following consultations with stakeholders during a meeting held in Ado Ekiti.
On the replacement of lost or damaged voter cards, INEC stated that in line with Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, a total of 14,406 applications were received from voters seeking replacements.
The commission confirmed that all 14,406 replacement PVCs were printed, with the majority already collected by their owners.
“The option of a downloadable copy of the lost, damaged, or defaced Voter Cards could not be implemented in this election because the necessary technology infrastructure for this is yet to be completed.
“The option would be available to voters in subsequent elections, especially the Osun Governorship election in August 2026 and the 2027 General Election.”
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring a credible and transparent electoral process as preparations enter the final stage ahead of Saturday’s polls.
