The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over the large number of unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State.
According to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, no fewer than 360,794 PVCs are yet to be collected across the state. The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo by the Commission’s Public Relations Officer, Musa Olurode.
Describing the figure as “troubling,” Agboke appealed to eligible voters to seize the opportunity of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to pick up their cards.
INEC reminded residents that while fresh registration is ongoing, multiple registration is prohibited, warning that offenders risk having their data invalidated.
The Commission stressed that the unclaimed PVCs represent thousands of voices excluded from the democratic process and called on political parties, civil society groups, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to help mobilise citizens for prompt collection.
Agboke further emphasised that collecting PVCs is as crucial as registration itself, noting that citizens cannot participate in elections without their voter cards.
