The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of candidates for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections for the 2027 general elections to August 11.
INEC Extends Deadline for 2027 Governorship and Assembly Candidate Submissions
Mohammed Haruna, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information Voter Education Committee, announced the extension in a statement issued in Abuja. According to Haruna, the submission window, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026, was pushed back by three days following growing appeals from political parties for additional time to complete the process.
The extension applies specifically to the upload of nominations onto the commission’s dedicated online portal.
APC Completes Uploads Ahead of Original Deadline
While other parties sought more time, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) announced it had completed the electronic upload of its candidates for all elective positions before the original August 8 deadline.
Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the National Chairman of the APC, stated that the party’s submissions covered all positions, ranging from the State Houses of Assembly to the presidential election. Yilwatda described the early completion as evidence of the party’s internal coordination and organizational strength.
In a statement issued by Abimbola Tooki, his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Yilwatda noted that the process required the nomination, verification, and documentation of thousands of candidates across the Federal Capital Territory and the 36 states.
Yilwatda argued that this administrative accomplishment indicates the party’s readiness for the electoral contest, stating: The APC has once again demonstrated that we are prepared for the responsibility of governing Nigeria. We did not wait until the last minute.
Impact on Party Preparations
The submission of candidate details is one of the early statutory stages of the electoral calendar. According to Yilwatda, finishing the upload ahead of schedule allows the APC to shift its focus toward other preparatory activities, including:
- Voter mobilisation and grassroots organisation
- Candidate engagement and campaign coordination
- Policy communication
The APC chairman urged voters to evaluate political parties based on their compliance with electoral rules and their ability to manage resources and people, rather than relying solely on campaign promises.
Osun Governorship Election and PVC Updates
Alongside the deadline extension for 2027 nominations, INEC provided updates regarding the upcoming Osun governorship election scheduled for August 15.
Mohammed Haruna notified voters who applied for replacements of damaged, lost, or defaced permanent voter cards (PVCs) that the window to print downloadable copies of these cards will expire at midnight on August 9. This deadline is intended to allow INEC to compile final statistics of total PVCs collected.
Regarding PVC collection in Osun State, the commission reported the following timeline:
- July 22 to July 28: Initial collection at the registration area (RA) level.
- July 31: Extended deadline for RA-level collection following complaints of large crowds and difficulties at centres.
- August 1 to August 7: Collection moved to the Local Government Area (LGA) level.
Additionally, INEC stated that replacement downloadable PVCs have been provided to voters in Ife Central and Odo-Otin local government areas after hoodlums invaded centers and carted away cards. Haruna explicitly stated that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
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