The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The deadline, which was initially set for Saturday, August 8, 2026, has now been moved to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
INEC said the extension followed requests from several political parties seeking additional time to complete the submission and upload of their candidates’ lists through the commission’s dedicated online portal.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Saturday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee.
Meanwhile, the electoral commission has reminded voters in Osun State who applied for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) that the deadline for downloading their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, August 9.
According to INEC, the deadline is necessary to enable the commission to compile the number of downloaded PVCs and establish the final statistics ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State governorship election.
The commission said PVC collection in Osun State initially took place at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28 but was extended to July 31 following complaints about overcrowding and difficulties faced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise was subsequently conducted at the Local Government Area level from August 1 to 7.
INEC also disclosed that downloadable replacement PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the reported theft of some PVCs by hoodlums who invaded collection centres in the two areas.
The commission, however, clarified that the stolen PVCs cannot be used to cast votes.
INEC assured residents of Osun State that it remains fully prepared to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on August 15, 2026.
