The Independent National Electoral Commission has given political parties a three-day extension to submit their candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
INEC moved the deadline from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following appeals from parties seeking more time to complete the submission process.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the additional time was granted to allow parties to conclude the submission of candidates through its dedicated online portal.
The electoral body said the original deadline, as contained in its revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, had been extended after receiving requests from political parties.
The latest move comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 polls, with candidates and party structures being put in place ahead of the election season.
Meanwhile, INEC has suspended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
INEC explained that the deadline would enable it compile data on the downloaded cards and produce final statistics on voter card collection before the election.
The PVC collection exercise started at Registration Area levels on July 22 and ended on July 28, but was extended to July 31 after complaints of overcrowding and challenges at collection centres.
The exercise was later moved to local government areas, where it continued from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been provided for voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after some cards were stolen during attacks on collection centres.
INEC, however, assured residents that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
The electoral body reiterated its readiness to conduct a free, fair and credible Osun governorship election on August 15, 2026.
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