Ahead of the 2027 general elections, residents of Ekiti State have been urged to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), participate actively in the electoral process and protect their votes on election day.
The call was made by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate for Ido/Osi Constituency I in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Ayodeji Ogunbusuyi, during the opening of his constituency office in Ido-Ekiti.
Ogunbusuyi said political support expressed through verbal assurances would have little value if eligible voters failed to obtain their PVCs and turn out to vote.
He urged residents not to be carried away by promises of support from friends, associates and political sympathisers, stressing that voters must take practical steps to participate in the election.
According to him, PVCs remain an essential instrument through which eligible citizens exercise their democratic rights and determine who represents them in government.
“What I am trying to tell my people is that it is very, very important for them to go out and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), because the PVC is their power to elect whoever they want to occupy a particular position,” he said.
“Sometimes, people may say they love you and promise to vote for you, but how can they do that without their PVCs? That is why I am appealing to them to go out and collect their PVCs. They should also ensure that they do not sit at home on election day.”
Ogunbusuyi also urged voters to participate fully in the election by voting for candidates they believe would represent their interests.
“They should come out in their numbers to vote for the candidates of their choice, particularly those they believe will listen to them, respect their wishes and represent their interests. I urge them to come out on election day, cast their votes and defend their votes,” he added.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the 2027 governorship and State House of Assembly elections for February 6, 2027.
The commission’s voter education guidelines also require voters to present their physical PVCs for verification through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) before voting.
Explaining the purpose of his newly opened constituency office, Ogunbusuyi said it was established to create a direct and accessible channel through which residents could communicate their needs, make suggestions and provide feedback on issues affecting their communities.
He said elected representatives and political candidates could not effectively understand the needs of their constituents without maintaining regular communication with them.
“Many times, a candidate may have a personal programme or agenda, but the people of the community may have other pressing needs and concerns. There is no way we can fully understand those needs if the people do not communicate them to us,” he said.
According to him, the office would provide a convenient location for residents who might otherwise find it difficult to meet him or other members of his team while going about their daily activities.
“By providing this office, we want the people to come forward with their suggestions and concerns so that we can coordinate, aggregate and incorporate their priorities into our own programme. That is the essence of opening this office,” he said.
Ogunbusuyi added that the facility would also be used for strategic meetings with residents to deliberate on community issues and identify possible solutions.
He stressed that the office would remain open to residents irrespective of their political affiliations.
“The office is open to everybody. It is not meant for members of our political party alone. People from other political parties are equally welcome to come and tell us what they want us to do, the direction they want us to take and the issues they want us to address,” he said.
“Although we are contesting under a political platform, we are here to represent everybody, irrespective of political affiliation. We are for all the people, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to communicate with us and contribute to the development of the community.”
Ogunbusuyi’s call comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections intensify across Ekiti State.
INEC has also made voter registration, PVC-status verification and polling-unit information available through its voter services platforms.
