The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline by three days for political parties to submit their candidates’ names and personal information for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
On Sunday, the commission announced that it shifted the deadline—which it originally set to expire on Saturday, July 11—to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this information in a signed statement.
The commission explained that it granted the extension after the Inter-Party Advisory Council petitioned on behalf of political parties that could not finish uploading their candidates’ data within the original timeframe.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission has approved the extension of the deadline for submission of lists of candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly Elections, by political parties,” the statement read.
It also added, “The deadline for submission in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election being Saturday 11th July 2026 has been extended to midnight on Tuesday 14th July, 2026.”
According to INEC, the ruling demonstrates its dedication to upholding legal requirements while guaranteeing diversity in the voting process.
“The extension underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity in its practices, while acting within the ambit of the law,” the commission stated.
INEC further urged political parties to maximise the additional time and complete the submission process before the new deadline expires.
“The commission enjoins political parties to take advantage of this window of opportunity and upload all necessary detail before the expiration of the new deadline,” the statement added.
Backstory…
The extension came after several political parties failed to upload the names and personal information of their presidential and National Assembly candidates to INEC’s online nomination portal before the initial deadline passed.
Over the recent weeks, intense negotiations, last-minute substitutions, and coalition talks have dominated the nomination process. This is especially true among opposition parties that are working to build a united front against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Several parties had raised concerns over technical challenges, documentation requirements and the tight timetable, prompting appeals to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for additional time to complete the process.
This latest update comes as the ruling announced the successful upload of its 471 candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
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