INEC extends deadline for Guber, assembly candidates’ lists

Nigeria's Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has granted political parties an extension to submit their candidate lists for the upcoming 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections. The submission window, initially closing on August 8, 2026, will now remain open until August 11, 2026, following appeals from various parties seeking more time to finalize their selections.

In a related development, INEC addressed the issue of stolen Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State. The commission announced that voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas, whose cards were stolen during an invasion of collection centers, can now access downloadable replacement PVCs. INEC reiterated that the stolen cards are unusable for voting and assured the public of its commitment to conducting a free, fair, and inclusive governorship election on August 15, 2026.

The commission also set a deadline of midnight on August 9, 2026, for voters to print downloadable copies of their replacement PVCs. This measure is intended to allow INEC to compile necessary data ahead of the Osun governorship election. The PVC collection process in Osun State, which faced challenges including large crowds, had previously seen extensions at both the Registration Area and Local Government levels.

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The Commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.