The Independent National Electoral Commission has expressed concern over the large number of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards in Ondo State, ahead of the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
According to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, a total of 295,856 PVCs have yet to be picked up by their rightful owners.
She made this known during a media briefing held at the INEC office in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday.
Out of the 2,053,061 registered voters in Ondo State, only 1,757,205 have collected their PVCs, Babalola said. She noted that voter registration remains an essential part of democratic participation.
“Voter registration is the gateway to democratic involvement. It is the means by which eligible Nigerians are empowered to participate in the electoral process,” Babalola stated.
She announced that the commission has approved the resumption of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), with online pre-registration scheduled to begin on August 18, 2025. In-person registration will commence a week later, on August 25.
“The main aim of this CVR is to provide access to registration for Nigerians who have just turned 18, those who couldn’t register before, individuals who want to transfer their voting location, and registered voters who need to correct personal details or replace damaged or lost cards,” she explained.
According to Babalola, the CVR exercise will run until August 2026. However, there will be a temporary suspension of the registration in December 2025 to allow for the collation and processing of data gathered within the first four months.
Reiterating the commission’s dedication to fairness and inclusion, the REC assured the public of INEC’s commitment to transparency.
“We are committed to professionalism and inclusivity. We also value the role of the media in this process and will continue to keep you updated through improved communication channels,” she said.
The commission urged all eligible citizens to take advantage of the forthcoming registration exercise to ensure they are able to vote in future elections.
