With an unprecedented 97.1% Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection rate across Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that over 1.02 million citizens are officially armed to vote in the upcoming 2026 governorship election.
Official data released by the commission reveals an extraordinary surge in civic engagement, with 1,028,929 voters out of the state’s 1,059,360 registered electorate successfully retrieving their cards.
This leaves a mere 30,431 PVCs uncollected across the state’s 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs), setting the stage for a highly participatory and fiercely contested off-cycle election.
The Battleground Numbers
The data highlights a massive wave of grassroots mobilization, though localized disparities remain:Moba LGA Sets the Gold Standard: Leading the entire state with near-flawless mobilization, Moba LGA achieved a staggering 99.8% collection rate.
Out of 56,968 registered voters, an incredible 56,856 picked up their cards, leaving just 112 PVCs uncollected.
Ado Ekiti Holds the Crown: As the state’s ultimate political prize, the capital city of Ado Ekiti commands the highest voting bloc with 189,432 registered voters.
It maintained a robust 96.7% collection rate, placing 183,259 PVCs into the hands of residents.Ise / Orun Lags Behind:
On the lower end of the spectrum, Ise / Orun LGA recorded the lowest collection percentage at 91.0%, accounting for the largest pile of left-behind cards at 4,431.
Political Stakes and Logistical Pressure
This historic collection rate signals that voter apathy may be at an all-time low in Ekiti State.
Political analysts note that such high collection numbers indicate intensive grassroots campaigns by the leading political parties, transforming the upcoming poll into a high-stakes numbers game.
“When over 97% of an electorate secures their voting power, it tells you the populace is highly motivated,” stated a regional political analyst.
“The burden of proof now shifts completely to INEC and security agencies to ensure logistics, technological deployment like the BVAS, and peace-keeping match this immense citizen readiness.
“With the electorate legally armed and the numbers certified, all eyes turn to the 16 LGAs to see how this unprecedented turnout potential will reshape the political landscape of Ekiti State.
