Countdown to Ekiti Poll: INEC confirms 1.06 million eligible voters

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the number of registered voters in Ekiti State has increased to 1,059,360 ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.

The figure represents a rise from the 987,647 registered voters recorded during the 2023 general election, following the completion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and the subsequent cleanup of the voter register.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying the updated register reflects broader voter inclusion ahead of the poll.

According to Haruna, the commission has also successfully concluded the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), recording a collection rate of over 97 per cent.

“Following the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the state on Thursday, May 15, 2026, and the subsequent clean-up of the voters’ register, the number of registered voters in the state has increased from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026,” he said.

Haruna noted that PVC collection rose from 958,052 in 2023 to 1,028,929 in 2026, representing 97.1 per cent of registered voters.

He recalled that the PVC collection deadline, initially fixed for June 11, 2026, was extended to June 14 following consultations with stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti to enable more eligible voters collect their cards.

INEC also processed 14,406 applications for replacement PVCs submitted by voters whose cards were lost, damaged, or defaced. All replacement cards were printed, with most already collected by applicants.

On plans to introduce downloadable replacement voter cards, Haruna explained that the initiative could not be deployed for the Ekiti election because the required technological infrastructure has not yet been completed.

He, however, assured that the system would be available for future elections, including the Osun governorship election scheduled for August 2026 and the 2027 general elections.

“The option of a downloadable copy of lost, damaged or defaced voter cards could not be implemented in this election because the necessary technology infrastructure is yet to be completed. The option will be available in subsequent elections, particularly the Osun governorship election and the 2027 general election,” he stated.

INEC further assured that all registered voters, including those who applied for transfers and replacements, have been adequately accommodated in the voter register.

The commission also expressed appreciation to traditional rulers, political parties, civil society organisations and the media for their support in mobilising voters across the state.

A detailed breakdown of PVC collection across the 16 local government areas of the state has been made available by the commission.