The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
INEC said the decision followed appeals from political parties for additional time to complete the submission of their candidates through the commission’s dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
The extension gives political parties three additional days to conclude the submission of their candidates ahead of the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
INEC suspends PVC collection in Osun
Meanwhile, INEC has announced the suspension of Permanent Voter Card collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their voter cards.
According to the electoral body, the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on the downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said the PVC collection exercise in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level on July 22 and was initially scheduled to end on July 28.
However, the exercise was extended to July 31 following complaints from voters over large crowds and difficulties experienced at some collection centres.
The commission subsequently moved the exercise to the local government level, where it ran from August 1 to 7.
Replacement PVCs available after theft
INEC also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of voter cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
The commission, however, assured voters that the stolen cards could not be used to cast ballots during the election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” INEC said.
The electoral body said the measures were part of efforts to ensure that eligible voters affected by the theft of their cards were not disenfranchised ahead of the governorship election.
INEC further reassured residents of its preparedness to conduct the August 15 election, urging voters and other stakeholders to remain confident in the electoral process.
“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 commission said.
