The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the names and personal particulars of their candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections, granting parties an additional three days after appeals from those unable to meet the original deadline.
The commission announced on Sunday that the submission window, initially scheduled to close on Saturday, July 11, 2026, will now remain open until midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
The decision was conveyed in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, who said the extension followed a formal request by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on behalf of political parties that encountered challenges uploading the names and personal particulars of their candidates through INEC’s online nomination portal.
Haruna explained that the commission considered the appeal in the interest of fairness and to ensure that no political party was unfairly excluded from the electoral process due to technical or administrative difficulties.
He stressed that the extension reflects INEC’s commitment to conducting an inclusive, transparent and credible electoral process while remaining strictly within the provisions of the Electoral Act and the approved timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The commission, however, cautioned political parties against treating the extension as an excuse for further delays, urging them to use the additional window to complete all required submissions before the new deadline expires.
INEC reiterated that all candidate nominations and accompanying personal particulars must be uploaded to its dedicated nomination portal no later than midnight on Tuesday, July 14, warning that no further extensions should be expected.
The development is expected to provide temporary relief for several political parties still battling internal nomination processes and technical challenges, even as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum across the country.