81.5% of Osun voters collect PVCs

INEC confirmed that 1.9 million voters have collected their PVCs ahead of the Osun governorship election, representing 81.5% of registered voters.

With the Osun State governorship election hours away, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that 1,906,390 voters (81.5% of the state’s 2.33 million registered voters) have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Sensitive election materials have arrived at the Central Bank facility in Osogbo and are being distributed across local government areas under tight security.

The 81.5% PVC collection rate is relatively high compared with some previous elections, but it still means that nearly 20% of registered voters will not be able to participate. The tight security around the materials is a recognition of the risks of tampering and violence. The election will be a test of INEC’s logistical capabilities and the commitment of political actors to a peaceful process.

This echoes the 2022 Osun election, which also saw high PVC collection rates and concerns about security. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a high-stakes election with significant security risks.

The winners: the voters who have collected their PVCs; and INEC, which has managed the logistics. The losers: the voters who have not collected their PVCs; and the Nigerian public, who must hope the election is peaceful.

Bottom Line: Most Osun voters have their PVCs. The election is hours away. The question is whether the poll will be free, fair and peaceful.