2027 Elections: INEC extends candidate submission deadline to August 11

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the lists of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The deadline, which was originally scheduled to expire on Saturday, August 8, 2026, has now been moved to Tuesday, August 11.

INEC announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.

The commission said the decision followed appeals from political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through its 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 stated.

INEC Suspends PVC Collection in Osun

In a related development, INEC announced the suspension of the physical collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

However, voters who applied for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.

The electoral body said the deadline would allow it to compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the number of cards collected ahead of the election.

INEC said PVC collection in Osun began at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28 but was extended to July 31 following complaints over large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.

The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and continued from August 1 to 7.

The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on two collection centres.

INEC stressed that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.

“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” it said.

The electoral commission further reassured residents of its preparedness to conduct the Osun governorship election scheduled for 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 commission stated.

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