The Independent National Electoral Commission has called on residents of Oyo State to collect and use their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), describing them as a vital tool for influencing leadership choices and shaping the future.
The state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Adeniran Tella, made the appeal on Wednesday during a press briefing in Ibadan, where he expressed concern over the large number of uncollected PVCs across the state.
Dr. Tella urged registered voters who are yet to pick up their cards to do so promptly, stressing that voter participation begins with possession of a PVC.
He also disclosed that INEC had identified logistical and operational challenges during the initial phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, assuring that the issues would be addressed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“Your voter card is more than a plastic document; it is your power to decide who leads you and to demand accountability from those elected,” Tella said. “No eligible voter should be left out of this process because of failure to collect their PVC.”
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to credible polls, saying INEC was determined to conduct elections marked by transparency, integrity and efficiency.
Tella also appealed to the media to support the voter education process by encouraging eligible residents to register and collect their cards during the second phase of the CVR exercise.
“With the support of the media and the cooperation of the public, we can build a voter register that truly reflects the will of the people,” he added.
To address accessibility challenges recorded during the first phase, the REC revealed that INEC would deploy a rotational strategy involving the movement of Voter Enrolment Device machines across the state’s 351 registration areas.
