The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the lists of candidates for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for the February 2027 General Election.
The Commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday, August 8, 2026, signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to INEC, the submission window, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026, has now been extended to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The Commission said the decision followed appeals from political parties seeking additional time to complete the candidate submission process through the dedicated online portal.
In a related development, INEC announced that voters who applied for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2026, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The Commission explained that the deadline would enable it to compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of collected PVCs ahead of the August 15, 2026, Osun State Governorship Election.
INEC recalled that PVC collection in Osun State began at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026. However, following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres, the Commission extended the Registration Area-level exercise to July 31.
Collection subsequently moved to the Local Government Area level from August 1 to 7, 2026.
The electoral body also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs have been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas whose cards were reportedly carted away by hoodlums during attacks on the two collection centres.
INEC stressed that the stolen PVCs cannot be used to vote.
The Commission reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State on August 15, 2026, while assuring voters of its preparedness for the poll.
