The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the commencement of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection for eligible voters in Osun State ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.

INEC Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola announced on Monday that PVCs belonging to residents who completed new voter registration, transferred their registration, replaced lost or damaged cards, or updated their voter details during the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise are now available.

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The Osun PVC Collection exercise will begin at Registration Area level across the state before moving to INEC Local Government Area offices to make access easier for voters.

PVC distribution at the 332 Registration Areas in Osun State will take place from Wednesday, July 22, to Tuesday, July 28, 2026, between 9:00am and 3:00pm daily, including weekends.

After the initial phase, collection will continue at INEC Local Government Area offices from Wednesday, July 29, to Friday, August 7, 2026, within the same operating hours.

Babalola urged eligible voters to take advantage of the exercise and collect their cards within the approved period, reminding them that the PVC remains the required document for accreditation and voting on election day.

“All registered voters concerned are strongly advised to take advantage of the exercise and collect their PVCs promptly within the stipulated period, as the Permanent Voter Card remains the only valid document for accreditation and voting on election day,” Babalola said.

The commission also announced that previously uncollected PVCs from earlier registration exercises would be available during the collection period.

INEC emphasised that PVC collection must be done personally, warning that collection by proxy would not be permitted under any circumstances.

The electoral body said the preparation forms part of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent governorship election in Osun State.

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The announcement comes as political parties and voters begin preparations for the next major electoral contest in the state, with voter participation expected to play a key role in determining the outcome.