Osun Governorship: PVC Collection Begins, Adeleke's Team Lists 10 Election Worries

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Monday the commencement of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution to eligible voters in Osun State. This exercise precedes the governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026. Concurrently, Governor Ademola Adeleke's campaign organization, the Imole Campaign Council (TICC), urged the electoral body to implement stronger safeguards for the upcoming poll, highlighting ten specific concerns derived from recent off-cycle elections across Nigeria.

In a separate development, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, assured residents of Ila that their party's governorship flag-bearer, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), would prioritize the welfare of civil servants, empower farmers, and enhance critical economic sectors if elected as Osun State governor.

According to a press statement released by Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, the PVC collection initiative targets individuals who registered, transferred their voter registration, sought replacements for lost or damaged PVCs, or updated their records during the recently concluded Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

The Commission detailed that the collection process would initially take place at the Registration Area (RA) level throughout the state, running from Wednesday, July 22, to Tuesday, July 28, 2026. Collection hours are set for 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, including weekends. Following this phase, the exercise will transition to INEC's Local Government Area offices, continuing from Wednesday, July 29, to Friday, August 7, 2026, also from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. daily, including weekends.

INEC explained that this phased approach to PVC distribution is intended to streamline the collection process, making it more convenient and accessible for voters across Osun State. Mrs. Babalola implored all eligible voters to retrieve their PVCs within the specified timeframe, emphasizing that the Permanent Voter Card remains the sole valid document for accreditation to participate in the governorship election.

However, during a press conference held in Osogbo, Senator Kamarudeen Oyewumi, the Director-General of the Imole Campaign Council, stated that their concerns were informed by reports from accredited election observers, findings from the council’s election surveillance team, publicly available evidence, and voter experiences from recent elections. He specifically pointed to alleged deficiencies observed during the 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council election, the Ekiti State governorship election, and several bye-elections conducted in states like Enugu, Nasarawa, Ondo, Rivers, Kano, and Kebbi. Oyewumi implored INEC to ensure these issues are not repeated in Osun.

He listed several critical issues: “Among the issues highlighted were the alleged deployment of insufficient ballot papers and other sensitive election materials, concerns over the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), alleged cases of already thumb-printed ballot papers, technical challenges associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and reports of voting without PVCs.”

The campaign council also expressed dismay over reports of political parties without candidates allegedly appearing on ballot papers and result sheets in some recent elections, warning that such occurrences could erode public trust in the electoral system. Oyewumi further referenced findings by election observer groups, including YiagaAfrica and the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, which had identified problems such as vote buying, BVAS-related accreditation glitches, lapses in results management, and breaches of ballot secrecy in previous electoral exercises.

To mitigate potential issues, the council advocated for the deployment of additional BVAS machines and election personnel to polling units with a high number of registered voters, asserting that this would reduce delays and prevent voter disenfranchisement. Furthermore, Oyewumi urged INEC and security agencies to investigate what the council described as alleged claims by some All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders concerning the preloading of BVAS machines and the printing of extra result sheets ahead of the Osun governorship election.

**APC Candidate's Promises:**

Meanwhile, the APC National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru, reassured the people of Ila that Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), the party’s governorship candidate, would prioritize the welfare of civil servants, empower farmers, and improve vital economic sectors if elected as Osun State governor. Speaking at an APC campaign rally in Ila, Basiru highlighted the substantial increase in monthly allocations to states, stressing that Osun must capitalize on this improved financial capacity to accelerate its development.

Basiru affirmed that AMBO possesses the requisite experience and economic acumen to spearhead meaningful development throughout Osun State. He stated: “Reports have shown that what states received has increased tremendously, and even the Osun State Government has acknowledged the improvement in allocations. That is why we are endorsing AMBO. He understands governance, business and the economy, and we believe he will use these resources to build a better future for our children.”

Basiru further outlined that an APC administration led by AMBO would dedicate special attention to workers’ welfare, agriculture, education, healthcare, and security. He elaborated: “Our civil servants deserve better welfare because they remain the engine of government. AMBO will support our farmers to produce more and create opportunities for their agricultural products to reach wider markets, bringing greater financial rewards to them. When agriculture thrives, our rural communities prosper, employment increases and the state’s economy becomes stronger. Education must equally receive priority. We are facing a shortage of teachers, and our children deserve quality education that prepares them for a brighter future.”