By: Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections by three days.
The Commission said the deadline, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026, has now been extended to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
According to INEC, the extension followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the uploading of their candidates’ details on the dedicated portal.
The development was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
In a related development, the Commission announced that the window for voters in Osun State who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to print downloadable copies of their cards will close at midnight on Sunday, August 9.
INEC explained that the decision was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and determine the final statistics of cards collected ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
The Commission recalled that PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
Collection subsequently moved to the Local Government Area level from August 1 to 7, 2026.
INEC also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs have been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of voters’ cards during attacks by hoodlums on two collection centres.
The electoral body, however, assured voters that the stolen PVCs could not be used to cast ballots in the election.
INEC reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State on August 15, 2026.
The Commission urged political parties and voters to take note of the revised deadlines and comply with the relevant electoral procedures.
