INEC extends presidential, national assembly candidates submission deadline to Tuesday

The Independent National Electoral Commission 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 by three days.

The commission announced on Sunday that the deadline, originally scheduled to expire on Saturday, July 11, has now been shifted to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

INEC disclosed this in a statement signed by its 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 on behalf of political parties that were unable to complete the upload of their candidates’ details within the stipulated 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.

It added, “The deadline for submission in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election being Saturday 11th July 2026 has been extended to midnight on Tuesday 14th July, 2026.”

INEC said the decision reflects its commitment to ensuring inclusivity in the electoral process while operating within the provisions of the law.

“The extension underscores the Commission’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity in its practices, while acting within the ambit of the law,” the commission stated.

It urged political parties to make use of the additional time to complete the submission process before the new deadline expires.

“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 added.

The extension comes after several political parties experienced difficulties meeting the original deadline for uploading the names and personal particulars of their presidential and National Assembly candidates through INEC’s online nomination portal.

This update comes as the ruling announced the successful upload of its 471 candidates for the presidential and National Assembly elections.