The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved an extension of the deadline for the submission (upload on the dedicated portal) of the list of candidates for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections for the February 2027 General Election.
According to a statement issued by the INEC National Commissioner & Chairman, Information & Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Commission granted the extension after parties made repeated requests for more time to complete the candidate submission process. The portal originally set to close on August 8, will now remain open until Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
In a related development, INEC said voters who had applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs, must download and print them before midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2026. The Commission said the cut-off would allow it to finalise statistics on total PVCs collection ahead of the August 15th Osun Governorship Election.
The Commission recalled that collection of PVCs in Osun State commenced at Registration Area (RA) level from 22nd to 28th July, 2026. Owing to complaints of large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres, the Commission approved an extension of RA-level collection to 31st July, 2026, before collection moved to LGA level, running from 1st to 7th August, 2026.
The Commission also disclosed that replacement Downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central local government areas whose cards were carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two centres. The Commission reiterated that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
INEC reassured the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026.
