The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a three-day extension for political parties to upload the names of their candidates for the upcoming governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. The submission portal, which was originally scheduled to close on August 8, 2026, will now remain open until Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The announcement was made public in a statement released on Sunday by Mohammed Haruna, the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee. According to the electoral body, the decision to extend the deadline was prompted by numerous appeals from various political parties pleading for additional time to successfully finalize their submission processes.
Accommodating Party Requests and Submission Timelines
In the official release, Haruna explained that the extension is a direct response to the operational challenges faced by political platforms. By extending the window, INEC aims to ensure a smooth, inclusive, and comprehensive candidate registration process ahead of the general elections.
“The submission window, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” Haruna stated, emphasizing that the commission remains committed to supporting stakeholders to meet regulatory requirements.
Osun State: PVC Collection Suspended Ahead of Guber Polls
In a parallel development, the electoral umpire has officially suspended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State ahead of its governorship election scheduled for August 15.
To ensure no registered voter is disenfranchised, INEC has directed individuals who applied for replacements due to lost, damaged, or defaced cards to print downloadable copies of their PVCs. Affected voters have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to complete this process. This measure will allow the commission to compile and reconcile final statistics of collected PVCs before election day.
Stolen Voter Cards Rendered Useless
Addressing security breaches during the distribution exercise, INEC confirmed that hoodlums invaded collection centers in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas, carting away an undisclosed number of voter cards.
However, the commission reassured the public that swift measures have been put in place to protect the integrity of the vote:
- Replacement downloadable PVCs have been prepared and made available for the affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central.
- The commission categorically stated that the stolen physical cards have been deactivated and cannot be used to cast votes.
- Security agencies have been briefed to prevent any disruption on election day.
Recalling the timeline of the PVC distribution in Osun, Haruna noted that the exercise initially began at the Registration Area level on July 22. Responding to complaints regarding large crowds and logistical delays, INEC extended the ward-level distribution to July 31, before moving the process to local government offices from August 1 to August 7. The commission reiterated its dedication to delivering a peaceful, transparent, and credible election in Osun State.