The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates for the 2027 General Election, giving parties three additional days to complete a process that was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026.
The electoral commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to the commission, political parties will now have until Tuesday, August 11, 2026, to submit the required candidate lists through its dedicated online portal.
INEC said the decision followed appeals from political parties requesting additional time to conclude the submission process.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close, Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission stated.
The extension effectively gives political parties a further opportunity to resolve outstanding issues surrounding their candidate submissions ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
Meanwhile, INEC has warned voters in Osun State that time is running out for those who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to print their downloadable replacement cards.
The commission said the printing window will close at midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
INEC explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it to compile the data on downloaded replacement PVCs and establish the final statistics ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
The commission recalled that PVC collection in Osun commenced at Registration Area level from July 22 to July 28. However, complaints over large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres forced the commission to extend the exercise to July 31.
Collection was subsequently moved to the local government level and continued from August 1 to August 7.
The electoral body also addressed concerns surrounding the theft of PVCs from collection centres in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas.
INEC disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to affected voters whose cards were reportedly carted away by hoodlums during invasions of the two collection centres.
The commission moved to reassure affected voters that the stolen physical cards would not enable anyone to cast a ballot in their names.
“ The Commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” INEC stated.
The development comes as political attention intensifies around the Osun governorship election, with parties and their supporters already mobilising ahead of the crucial August 15 poll.
With the election only days away, INEC said it remained committed to ensuring that eligible voters are able to participate while maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
The commission further assured the people of Osun State that it was fully prepared to conduct what it described as a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on August 15, 2026.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement added.