The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to upload the names of candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections from August 8 to August 11, 2026.
INEC announced the extension in a statement issued on Sunday by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to the commission, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process.
“The submission window, which, according to the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the general election, was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the statement reads.
“The extension follows growing appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process.”
In a related development, INEC announced the suspension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
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Haruna said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
“This is to allow the commission to compile the data of downloaded PVCs for final statistics of total PVCs collected ahead of the August 15th Osun governorship election,” the statement added.
The commission also said replacement downloadable PVCs had been provided for voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas whose cards were reportedly carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two collection centres.
“The commission also wishes to state that replacement downloadable PVCs have 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 reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” INEC said.
Haruna recalled that PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level on July 22 and was initially scheduled to run until July 28.
However, following complaints about large crowds and difficulties faced by voters at collection centres, the commission extended the exercise at the Registration Area level to July 31 before moving it to the local government level from August 1 to 7.
The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State.
