By Ade Oyeyemi
The Independent National Electoral Commission has challenged claims of missing Permanent Voter Cards in Ondo State, insisting that all PVCs delivered to its state office have been accounted for.
The commission was reacting to a call by the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate for Akoko South-East/Akoko South-West Federal Constituency, Adeyeri Stephen, for an investigation into the alleged disappearance of PVCs in Iwaro-Oka, Akoko South-West Local Government Area.
In a statement on Thursday, INEC described the allegation as misleading, maintaining that no voter card had gone missing in the state.
The commission, through its Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Olayinka Ogunseye, explained that only PVCs belonging to applicants who requested voter registration transfers and those who registered during the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise were available for collection.
It said the first phase of the exercise ran from August to December 2025, adding that cards for registrants enrolled during the second and third phases had yet to be produced or delivered for collection.
INEC said its records showed that the number of PVCs received for Polling Unit 12, Igbeyinadun Quarters, in Oka V A Owalusin/Ayepe Ward, Akoko South-West Local Government Area, matched the quantity supplied by its national headquarters in Abuja.
According to the commission, confusion may have arisen because the collection register contains the names of registrants from all three phases of the registration exercise, even though cards for only the first phase and transfer applicants are currently available.
It stressed that the appearance of a registrant’s name in the collection register did not necessarily mean that the person’s PVC was ready for collection.
The commission therefore rejected calls for an investigation, arguing that cards that had not been produced or delivered could not reasonably be described as missing.
INEC also urged political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to confirm information with its Ondo State office before making public statements that could create unnecessary tension or undermine confidence in the electoral process.
The commission reiterated its commitment to transparency and credible elections, adding that its officials were available to address concerns raised by political actors and members of the public.
Meanwhile, INEC announced that collection of PVCs at ward level would end on Thursday, October 15, 2026, with collection continuing at its offices across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State from Friday, October 16.
It advised registrants whose cards were ready to collect them promptly and directed those with complaints or enquiries to visit their respective local government offices or the state office in Akure.
The commission, under the leadership of Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr Mutiu Agboke, maintained that the outcome of any election in Ondo State should be determined by the votes cast by the electorate.
