- Osun voters have only days left to resolve PVC and BVAS issues before the August 15 governorship election
- The theft of PVCs from an INEC collection centre has raised concerns about voter access and election security
- TheRadar explains the official steps voters should take before election day to avoid accreditation problems
Your PVC is no longer just another card in your wallet; for Osun voters, it's the key that unlocks your vote on Saturday, August 15.
And with BVAS now the only legally recognised way to get accredited, a missing PVC, a stolen card, or a verification glitch could end your election before you even reach the ballot box.
The recent attack on a PVC collection centre in Odo-Otin has added fresh anxiety to an already tense election season.
Ten hoodlums stormed a PVC collection centre in Odo-Otin, fired shots into the air, and disappeared with exactly three packs of PVCs stolen from Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, Okuku.
If you're registered in Osun State and you're planning to show up on August 15, this single incident should tell you something: your PVC and your BVAS accreditation are the two things standing between you and your vote this cycle. Miss either one, and you could be turned away at the gate.
We broke down everything including the glitches, the fixes, and the deadlines, so you're not that person arguing with a security official at 2pm on election day.
What's happening in Osun
Osun goes to the polls on Saturday, August 15, 2026, for the governorship seat, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke (Accord) facing off against Bola Oyebamiji (APC), Najeem Salaam (ADC), and a total of 14 political parties fielding candidates.
Beyond the party wars, there's a real, on-ground problem: getting your PVC, getting accredited, and making sure your vote actually counts.
INEC insists it's ready. It announced that it has deployed 4,427 BVAS devices across the state, with 664 backup units, a 15% operational reserve stationed at collection centres to fix hardware issues on the spot.
The BVAS situation: No more manual backup plan
INEC has been clear: biometric verification via BVAS is the sole, statutory method of accreditation for this election, there will be no manual accreditation as backup.
In previous elections, if the machine misbehaved, officials could fall back on the manual register. Not this time. If BVAS fails at your unit and there's no fix, that's a problem.
INEC claims those backup units and dedicated RACTECH officers exist specifically to resolve glitches instantly at registration area centres. During a mock accreditation exercise, some voters reportedly still experienced a brief BVAS malfunction at Olorunsogo Polling Unit 4 in Egbedore LGA, so the machines aren't bulletproof.
PVC Wahala: What if yours got stolen or never arrived?
If your PVC is one of the stolen ones, or it's simply missing, INEC says you're not automatically locked out. According to officials, serial numbers of stolen PVCs can be blacklisted, and affected voters can either collect a replacement card or use a digital verification PVC download.
That last part, digital PVC, is your emergency exit if physical collection isn't happening in time. But nobody has clearly explained, publicly, exactly how fast that replacement or digital download process moves once you report a stolen card. If you're affected, don't wait to find out on August 14.
Also key: INEC has pushed the PVC collection window, meaning collection was extended to July 31.
The mock accreditation test and what it revealed
INEC ran a mock accreditation exercise across 12 selected LGAs, four per senatorial zone, on Saturday, August 1, basically a dress rehearsal before the real thing.
Officials say most units performed fine, with BVAS capturing facial biometrics in about one minute per voter. Elderly voters were reportedly prioritised, which is a small win worth noting.
But the glitch at Olorunsogo, however brief, is the exact reason this article exists. If a malfunction happens during a test run with cameras and officials watching, don't assume election day will be glitch-free just because INEC says "we're ready."
Your pre-August 15 checklist
Before the day itself, here's what you should have sorted:
- Confirm your PVC is in hand: If it's not, find out immediately whether you qualify for a replacement or the digital download option.
- Double-check your polling unit and registration details: Don't assume, verify.
- If your PVC was among items reported stolen: Report to INEC and the police early. Don't wait for election morning to start that process.
- Know that BVAS is now the only accreditation method: There's no manual fallback plan for you to lean on.
- Arrive early: With voting scheduled to start around 8:30 a.m., an early queue position gives you buffer time if there's a device delay at your unit.
Why this matters beyond Osun
Osun is basically a preview. What happens here; the glitches, the fixes, how INEC handles a security breach mid-cycle, sets the tone for how future off-cycle elections get run across Nigeria.
If BVAS-only accreditation works cleanly here, expect it to become the standard nationwide with zero manual fallback anywhere. If it doesn't, expect a very loud national conversation before the next major poll.
Either way: for Osun voters, this isn't a "know for know sake" situation. Your PVC status and your BVAS accreditation are literally the gatekeepers to your vote on August 15. Sort your business now, not in the queue.