The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the names and details of their governorship and State House of Assembly candidates for the 2027 General Election.
The exercise, initially scheduled to end on Saturday, August 8, 2026, has now been extended to Tuesday, August 11.
INEC announced the extension in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
According to the Commission, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the uploading of candidates’ details on the designated online portal.
The extension comes amid intensified preparations by political parties for the 2027 elections, with candidate nomination and submission constituting a major stage in the electoral timetable.
Meanwhile, INEC has suspended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The Commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
INEC explained that the deadline would enable it to compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final figures on the number of cards collected before the election.
The electoral body had commenced PVC collection at Registration Area centres across the state from July 22 to 28. However, the exercise was extended to July 31 following complaints about overcrowding and difficulties at some collection centres.
Collection was subsequently moved to the local government level from August 1 to 7.
INEC also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been provided for affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums reportedly invaded two collection centres and stole voters’ cards.
The Commission assured affected voters that the stolen PVCs could not be used to vote, stressing its commitment to ensuring that no eligible voter was disenfranchised as a result of the incidents.
INEC further assured residents of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State on August 15.
The poll is expected to attract heightened attention as political parties intensify their final campaigns and mobilisation ahead of election day.