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 from August 8 to August 11, 2026.
The Commission said the extension followed appeals from political parties seeking additional time to complete the submission and upload of their candidates’ lists on the dedicated portal.
According to an official statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, the revised deadline is now Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
In a related development, INEC announced the suspension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The Commission said the window for voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to print downloadable copies of their cards would close at midnight on Sunday, August 9.
INEC explained that the measure would enable it to compile data on downloaded PVCs and determine the final statistics of collected cards ahead of the governorship election.
The Commission recalled that PVC collection in Osun State began at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties encountered 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 had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards when hoodlums invaded the two collection centres.
The electoral body assured affected voters that the stolen PVCs could not be used to vote.
INEC further reassured the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on August 15, 2026.
