It was a rush of hopeful citizens across Osun State yesterday as residents besieged offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) under the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
From Osogbo to Ilesa, Ikire to Iwo, and in the 30 local government areas of the state, long queues of registrants were observed as Nigerians seized the opportunity to participate in the physical phase of the exercise.
The exercise, which had earlier commenced with an online registration window on August 18, 2025, has now entered its more rigorous stage, with INEC opening all designated centres across the state.
At the INEC headquarters in Osogbo, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, personally led a monitoring team to assess the conduct of officials and the turnout of registrants.
Agboke explained that the exercise was designed to give every eligible citizen an unhindered opportunity to register ahead of the 2026 governorship election in Osun.
“Our visit today is aimed at assessing the smoothness of operations, ensuring compliance with guidelines, and identifying areas that may require additional support,” he said. “It also gives us the opportunity to interact with officials and registrants, to be sure the process is transparent, orderly, and efficient.”
Reports from different parts of the state confirmed that the enthusiasm was high, though the large crowds stretched facilities in some centres. Many prospective voters were seen waiting patiently under the sun, determined to secure their PVCs.
For residents, the exercise is more than a bureaucratic process. It is a civic duty and a preparation for a decisive governorship contest next year that many already see as a defining moment in Osun’s political journey.
INEC has urged citizens to conduct themselves peacefully during the registration period and assured that measures were being put in place to cater to the surge in turnout.
