POLITICAL POLITICS

INEC Extends Deadline For Governorship, Assembly Candidates' Lists Submission

by admin on | 2026-08-09 17:02:22

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By Ahmad Sirajo Makama, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved an extension of the deadline for the submission of candidates’ lists for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for the February 2027 general election.

The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the general election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

In a statement issued by the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the extension follows “growing appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process.”

In a related development, the commission notified voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) that the window to print downloadable copies of their cards will expire by midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2026.

“This is to allow the commission to compile the data of downloaded PVCs for final statistics of total PVCs collected ahead of the August 15 Osun Governorship Election,” he said.

He recalled that collection of PVCs in Osun State commenced at the Registration Area (RA) level from July 22 to 28, 2026.

Owing to complaints of large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres, the commission approved an extension of RA-level collection to July 31, 2026, before collection moved to the Local Government Area (LGA) level from August 1 to 7, 2026.

The commission also stated that replacement downloadable PVCs have been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central local government areas whose cards were carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two centres.

The commission reiterated that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.

INEC reassured the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on August 15, 2026.