The governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, APM, in Ogun State, Babajide Matthew, has urged the Federal Government to continue to provide the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, with the necessary independence and institutional space to conduct the 2027 elections impartially.

He appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing an environment for INEC to discharge its constitutional responsibilities without undue interference, arguing that sustaining such independence would be crucial to strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s electoral democracy ahead of the general elections.

Matthew stated this on Tuesday in an open letter to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN.

While commending the commission for the progress demonstrated in recent electoral processes, particularly the Osun State governorship election, he noted that the conduct of the poll provided an opportunity for Nigerians to observe INEC’s commitment to neutrality, professionalism and due process.

“I respectfully encourage the Federal Government to continue to give the Commission the necessary independence and institutional space to conduct the 2027 elections impartially,” he stated.

Matthew said many Nigerians were looking towards INEC with renewed expectations with Amupitan at the helm of affairs, expressing optimism that the commission under his watch had an important opportunity to further strengthen confidence in the nation’s democracy.

The governorship candidate, while lauding the Legal Department of INEC for its diligence and professionalism in supporting and defending the integrity of the electoral system, commended the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ogun State, Mrs Saseyi Ibiyemi, for working assiduously in the state.

“As a political candidate, I recognise that my responsibility is to participate in the democratic process and to respect the institutions established to conduct it. As a Nigerian, however, my greater interest is in seeing a credible electoral process that reflects the genuine will of the people,” he added.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it has printed an additional 77,015 Permanent Voter Cards in Oyo State. 

The commission noted that the PVCs were printed for new set of voters ahead of the 2027 general elections in the state. 

Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in the state, Professor Adeniran Tella disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Ibadan.

Tella explained that the new PVCs will be distributed to the new registrants across the 351 wards in the state, noting that the distribution of the PVCs will commence Friday 9th and terminate on Thursday, 15th of October 2026. 

Tella added that the exercise will be between 9:00am and 3:00pm daily. 

“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Oyo State is to commence the distribution and collection of the newly printed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs)’s first batch of 77,015 across the 351 Registration Areas/ Wards to eligible registrants for a seven-day period as from Friday 9th to Thursday, 15th oct. 2026 ahead of the preparations towards the conduct of 2027 General Elections in the State.

“The exercise is expected to take place as from 9:00am to 3:00pm daily including weekends.”