…Says stolen Osun PVCs cannot be used to vote

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for the February 2027 General Election.

The Commission disclosed this in a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

INEC also announced that downloadable replacement Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas of Osun State whose cards were stolen during an invasion of the two collection centres.

The Commission warned that the stolen PVCs could not be used to vote.

“The Commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” the statement said, while assuring the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on August 15, 2026.

According to INEC, the submission window, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, August 11, following appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process.

In a related development, the Commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.

It said the deadline would enable it to compile data on downloaded PVCs ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.

INEC recalled that PVC collection in Osun State commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres.

The exercise subsequently moved to the Local Government Area level and ran from August 1 to 7, 2026.