INEC pushes back deadline for state election nominations to 11 August

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has moved the deadline for submitting the list of candidates for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections for the 2027 general elections to 11 August.

Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information Voter Education Committee, shared this update in a statement made in Abuja on Sunday.

Mr Haruna explained that the deadline extension for uploading nominations onto INEC’s portal came after requests from political parties.

“The submission window which, according to the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the general elections, was originally set to close on Saturday, August 8, has been pushed to Tuesday, August 11.

“The extension comes after political parties asked for more time to finish their processes,” he said.

Mr Haruna also informed voters who requested replacements for lost, damaged, or defaced permanent voter cards (PVCs) that they have until midnight on 9 August to print downloadable copies of their cards.

This is to help the commission gather data on downloaded PVCs for final statistics before the Osun governorship election on 15 August.

He reminded everyone that PVC collection in Osun State took place at the registration area (RA) level from 22 July to 28 July.

“Due to complaints about large crowds and problems faced by voters at collection centres, the commission extended RA-level collection to 31 July, before moving to LGA level, which ran from 1 August to 7 August.

“The commission also wants to inform that replacement of downloadable PVCs is available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central local government areas whose cards were taken by hoodlums who attacked the two centres.

“The commission emphasizes that the stolen cards cannot be used for voting,” he added.

Mr Haruna assured the people of Osun that INEC is ready to conduct a free, fair, credible, and inclusive governorship election on 15 August.