The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit and upload the names of their candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections ahead of the February 2027 general election.
The commission announced that the deadline, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026, under the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election, has been shifted to Tuesday, August 11, following appeals from political parties seeking more time to complete the process.
INEC disclosed the development in a statement issued by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
Haruna said the extension was granted in response to requests from political parties, allowing them additional time to finalise and upload their candidates’ details for the elections.
The electoral body also informed voters who applied for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) that the portal for printing downloadable copies of the cards would close at midnight on Sunday, August 9.
According to Haruna, the deadline is necessary to enable the commission compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on voter card collection ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
“This is to allow the commission compile the data of downloaded PVCs for final statistics of total PVCs collected ahead of the August 15 Osun Governorship Election,” he said.
INEC recalled that PVC distribution in Osun State began at the Registration Area level from July 22 to July 28 but was later extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres. The exercise subsequently moved to local government offices, where card collection continued from August 1 to August 7.
The commission also addressed the theft of PVCs during attacks on collection centres in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas of the state. It disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been provided to affected voters whose cards were stolen during the incidents.
“The commission also wishes to state that replacement downloadable PVCs have been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas whose cards were carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two centres,” the statement said.
INEC, however, assured residents that the stolen PVCs could not be used to vote in the election, maintaining that safeguards were in place to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
The commission further reassured the people of Osun State of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election, reiterating its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive poll.
