The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday, announced the commencement of the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to eligible voters ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.

This was as the Imole Campaign Council (TICC), the campaign organisationof Governor Ademola Adeleke, asked the electoral body to strengthen safeguards ahead of the election, raising 10 concerns from recent off-cycle elections across the country.

In another development, the National Secretary of the All ProgressivesCongress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, has assured residents of Ila that the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), would prioritise the welfare of civil servants, empower farmers and improve critical sectors of the economy if elected governor of Osun State.

In a press statement by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Commission said the exercise was targeted at those who registered, transferred their voter registration, applied for replacement of lost or damaged PVCs, or updated their records during the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

According to the Commission, the PVC collection exercise would begin at the Registration Area (RA) level across the state from Wednesday, July 22, to Tuesday, July 28, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily, including weekends.

INEC disclosed that after the Registration Area distribution, the exercise would continue at its Local Government Area offices from Wednesday, July 29, to Friday, August 7, 2026, also between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily, including weekends.

The Commission explained that the phased distribution was designed to make the collection process easier and more accessible for voters across the state.

Mrs. Babalola urged all eligible voters to collect their PVCs within the stipulated period, stressing that the Permanent Voter Card remains the only valid means of accreditation for participation in the governorship election

However, speaking at a press conference in Osogbo, the Director-General of the council, Senator Kamarudeen Oyewumi, noted that the concerns were informed by reports of accredited election observers, reviews conducted by the council’s election surveillance team, publicly available evidence and experiences shared by voters during recent elections.

He stressed that the campaign council identified alleged shortcomings observed during the 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council election, the Ekiti State governorship election and several bye-elections conducted in states including Enugu, Nasarawa, Ondo, Rivers, Kano and Kebbi, urging the INEC to ensure such issues do not recur in Osun.

“Among the issues highlighted were the alleged deployment of insufficient ballot papers and other sensitive election materials, concerns over the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), alleged cases of already thumb-printed ballot papers, technical challenges associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and reports of voting without PVCs.”

The campaign council also decried the concern over reports that political parties without candidates allegedly appeared on ballot papers and result sheets in some recent elections, saying such incidents could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

Oyewumi equally cited findings by election observer groups, including YiagaAfrica and the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, which he said identified challenges such as vote buying, BVAS-related accreditation issues, lapses in results management and breaches of ballot secrecy in previous elections.

The council further called for the deployment of additional BVAS machines and election personnel to polling units with large numbers of registered voters, arguing that this would reduce delays and minimise voter disenfranchisement.

Oyewumi equally urged INEC and security agencies to investigate what it described as alleged claims by some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders regarding the preloading of BVAS machines and the printing of extra result sheets ahead of the Osun governorship election.

Basiru: Oyebamiji Will Empower Farmers, Improve Civil Servants’ Welfare in Ila

The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), AjibolaBasiru, has assured residents of Ila that the party’s governorship candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), would prioritise the welfare of civil servants, empower farmers and improve critical sectors of the economy if elected governor of Osun State.

He gave his speech during the APC campaign rally in Ila, noting that monthly allocations to states have risen substantially, adding that Osun must take advantage of the improved financial capacity to accelerate development.

According to Basiru, AMBO possessed the experience and economic knowledge required to drive meaningful development across Osun State.

“Reports have shown that what states received has increased tremendously, and even the Osun State Government has acknowledged the improvement in allocations.

“That is why we are endorsing AMBO. He understands governance, business and the economy, and we believe he will use these resources to build a better future for our children,” Basiru mentioned.

Basiru said an APC administration under AMBO would place special attention on workers’ welfare, agriculture, education, healthcare and security.

“Our civil servants deserve better welfare because they remain the engine of government.

“AMBO will support our farmers to produce more and create opportunities for their agricultural products to reach wider markets, bringing greater financial rewards to them.

“When agriculture thrives, our rural communities prosper, employment increases and the state’s economy becomes stronger. Education must equally receive priority. We are facing a shortage of teachers, and our children deserve quality education that prepares them for a brighter future,” he mentioned. (AriseNews TV)

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