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 Election.
The deadline, originally set for Saturday, August 8, 2026, has been moved to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
According to a statement by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee,the extension followed appeals from political parties for additional time to complete the uploading of candidates’ details on the dedicated portal.
In a related development, the Commission announced that the window for voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to print downloadable copies of their cards will close at midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2026.
According to INEC, the deadline is necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on total PVCs collected ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
PVC collection in Osun State began at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026. Following complaints about large crowds and difficulties at collection centres, INEC extended the exercise to July 31 before moving it to the Local Government Area level from August 1 to 7.
The Commission also said replacement downloadable PVCs have been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas whose cards were stolen during invasions of two collection centres by hoodlums.
INEC clarified that the stolen PVCs cannot be used to vote.
The Commission reiterated its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State.