The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the names and personal particulars of their candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
Key Highlights:
- INEC extended the deadline for submitting 2027 presidential and National Assembly candidates to July 14, 2026.
- The extension followed a request from IPAC on behalf of political parties.
- It gives parties more time to upload candidates’ details.
- INEC said the move supports a fair and inclusive nomination process.
- The extension comes after some parties faced technical and administrative challenges.
The electoral body announced that the deadline, which was originally scheduled to end on Saturday, July 11, 2026, has now been shifted to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
The decision was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
According to the commission, the extension followed an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which requested additional time on behalf of political parties that were unable to complete the upload of their candidates’ details on the commission’s online nomination portal before the initial deadline.
INEC said the extension was approved to ensure all eligible political parties have a fair opportunity to complete the nomination process within the framework of the law.
“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 added that the deadline contained in the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Election has been extended from Saturday, July 11, to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
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The commission explained that the move reflects its commitment to conducting an inclusive electoral process while adhering to legal provisions guiding the elections.
INEC also urged all political parties to take advantage of the three-day extension to complete the upload of their candidates’ names and required personal particulars before the new deadline expires.
The extension comes after several political parties reportedly experienced technical and administrative challenges in meeting the original submission deadline.
The development follows the announcement by the ruling party that it had successfully uploaded the details of its 471 candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
