INEC Grants Three‑Day Extension for 2027 Election Candidate Submissions
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the deadline for political parties to submit the names and personal particulars of their presidential and National Assembly candidates for the 2027 general elections has been extended by three days.
The extension, disclosed in a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, follows a request from the Inter‑Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on behalf of parties that struggled to finish the upload 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.
The previous deadline, set for Saturday, 11 July 2026, has now been moved to midnight on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
INEC said the decision reflects its commitment to promoting inclusivity in the electoral process while staying within legal provisions.
“The extension underscores the commission’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity in its practices while acting within the ambit of the law,” INEC added.
The commission urged parties to use the extra period to complete all required information before the new deadline.
“The commission enjoins political parties to take advantage of this window of opportunity and ensure that all necessary details are uploaded before the expiration of the new deadline,” the statement concluded.
The extension came after several parties reported difficulties meeting the original deadline due to technical and administrative challenges on INEC’s online nomination portal.
Prior to the announcement, INEC had maintained that the July 11 deadline would not be shifted, but relented after parties appealed for more time.
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