The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved a three-day extension for political parties to submit their candidate lists for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections. The new deadline is midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, shifting from the original Saturday, July 11, 2026 cutoff.
Why INEC Granted the Extension
INEC announced the extension in a statement on Sunday morning, July 12, via its official X (formerly Twitter) account. The statement, signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, national commissioner and chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said the decision followed a formal appeal from the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). IPAC approached the commission on behalf of parties that could not upload their candidates' names and personal particulars before the original deadline.
According to The Punch, several political parties were unable to complete their uploads within the required period, which ran from 9 am on Saturday, June 27, to 6 pm on Saturday, July 11. INEC stated that the extension reflects its commitment to inclusivity while operating within the law. The commission urged all affected parties to take full advantage of the additional window and ensure all required details are uploaded before the new deadline expires.
What Political Parties Must Do
Parties are expected to provide the names, personal particulars, and all other mandatory information for their nominated candidates for both the presidential race and National Assembly seats. INEC did not indicate that any further extensions would be considered beyond the new midnight deadline of July 14.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) called for the immediate sack of the INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan. The executive director of the Islamic group, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, argued that Amupitan cannot be trusted.
