The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has given political parties three additional days to complete the electronic submission of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The commission announced on Sunday that the deadline, initially fixed for August 8, has now been moved to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
INEC said the extension was granted after several political parties appealed for more time to conclude the nomination and upload process.
In a statement issued by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the commission said the adjustment was intended to accommodate parties still working to complete their submissions.
“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 statement said.
“The extension follows growing appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process.”
The commission also announced a separate development concerning the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
INEC said the collection of Permanent Voter Cards has been suspended as it prepares to finalise voter information ahead of the election.
However, voters who applied for replacement cards because their original PVCs were lost, damaged or defaced were given until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies.
The commission said the move would enable it to compile final figures on the number of PVCs collected before the election.
“This is to allow the commission to compile the data of downloaded PVCs for final statistics of total PVCs collected ahead of the August 15th Osun governorship election,” INEC said.
INEC also addressed the theft of voter cards in two Osun local government areas.
The commission said replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central, following the invasion of the two collection centres by suspected hoodlums.
INEC stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to cast ballots.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” it said.
PVC collection in Osun began at Registration Area level on July 22 and was initially scheduled to end on July 28.
The exercise was later extended to July 31 following complaints about overcrowding and difficulties experienced by voters at collection points.
Collection subsequently moved to the local government level and continued from August 1 to 7.
INEC said it remained committed to delivering a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State.
The latest extension of the candidate-upload deadline gives political parties until August 11 to complete a key stage in preparations for the 2027 general elections.
