The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for the February 2027 general elections.
The electoral commission also announced the end of the PVC collection exercise in Osun State ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
These were contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
INEC said the deadline for political parties to upload their lists of candidates on the dedicated portal had been moved from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
According to the commission, the extension was approved following appeals from political parties for additional time to complete the submission process.
The electoral body said, “The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close, Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026.”
Meanwhile, INEC said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their replacement cards.
The commission explained that the deadline would enable it to compile data on downloaded PVCs and determine the final statistics of collected cards ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.
PVC collection in Osun began at the Registration Area level from July 22 to July 28, 2026. The exercise was subsequently extended to July 31 after voters reported large crowds and difficulties at some collection centres.
The collection exercise then moved to the local government level from August 1 to August 7.
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 commission stressed that the stolen PVCs could not be used to vote.
INEC further reassured residents of Osun State that it was fully prepared to conduct the governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, pledging that the poll would be free, fair, credible and inclusive.
The announcement comes as political parties continue preparations for the 2027 general elections, while electoral authorities conclude arrangements for the immediate governorship contest in Osun State.
