Over 360,000 PVCs Unclaimed In Osun – REC
- Warns Against Fake News, Vote Buying
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State has disclosed that 360,794 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected by their owners ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, made the disclosure during an interactive session with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Osogbo on Wednesday.
Agboke also announced that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will commence online on August 18, while physical registration across the 30 local government areas and the Modakeke area office will begin on August 25, 2025.
He stated that the exercise would run daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and emphasized that no staff of the commission is permitted to demand any money from registrants.
The REC explained that the CVR will cover fresh registrants, individuals who have relocated, and those whose cards are defaced or lost—clarifying that not all categories require fresh registration.
Agboke, who urged eligible citizens, particularly those who have just turned 18, to participate in the registration, revealed that Osun State currently has a total of 1,954,800 registered voters.
Emphasizing the media’s critical role in safeguarding electoral integrity, he called on journalists to speak out strongly against vote buying, electoral violence, and other malpractices.
“The media is strategically positioned to help the commission speak loudly against the tendency to want to purchase votes on election day like a commodity, against orchestrated violence, and against various electoral malfeasances. We must speak against them and be the loudest,” Agboke stated.
Responding to questions on the technical glitches experienced during the 2023 presidential election, Agboke clarified that the setbacks were unforeseen and not deliberate.
“These glitches were not intentional. The Commission has explained them on its website. Whether accepted or not, they were unforeseen issues that should not be blamed on any individual, including INEC. We’ve reviewed and learned from them,” he said.
He assured the public that INEC is committed to improving its systems ahead of the 2027 general elections, based on lessons learned from past shortcomings.
He also addressed the issue of overvoting, clarifying how it affects the outcome of elections.
“Overvoting occurs when the number of counted ballot papers exceeds the number of accredited voters. In such cases, INEC officials are mandated to cancel the result from that polling unit immediately. Such results do not even make it to the collation center,” he explained.
The REC renewed calls for accuracy and responsibility in reporting, urging journalists to verify any INEC-related information directly from the state office before publication.
“You are not just reporters; you are critical electoral stakeholders. Together, we can ensure a peaceful and credible election in Osun,” he added.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
