INEC Announces New Deadline For Upload Of Governorship, House Of Assembly Candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has prolonged the period for political parties to upload the identities of contenders for the gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly polls, shifting the final date from August 8 to August 11, 2026.

INEC revealed the shift through an official release published on Sunday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.

According to the electoral body, the choice came about as a result of persistent requests from political associations asking for extra duration to finish the online submission steps.

“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 parallel update, INEC declared the temporary halt of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) distribution across Osun State in preparation for the upcoming August 15 governorship showdown.

Haruna explained that electors who requested substitutes for misplaced, ruined, or defaced cards possessed up until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to acquire digital prints of their documents.

“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 further noted that alternative downloadable cards had been supplied for citizens residing in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas whose credentials were stolen by thugs who raided dual collection hubs.

“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 stated.

Haruna reminded the public that card distribution in Osun began at the Registration Area tier on July 22 and was initially set to wrap up on July 28.

Nevertheless, due to grievances regarding massive turnouts and hurdles encountered by citizens at issuance stations, the electoral body prolonged the exercise at the Registration Area tier until July 31 prior to shifting it to the local government level from August 1 to 7.

The commission reaffirmed its dedication to executing a transparent, impartial, trustworthy, and all-encompassing gubernatorial ballot within Osun State.