Nigeria: INEC Extends Deadline for Submission of Nominations for State Elections to 11 August

What the report says

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for political parties to submit and upload candidates’ nominations for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections in the 2027 general election cycle. According to a statement attributed to INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna and reported from Abuja on Sunday, the new cutoff is 11 August, replacing the earlier 8 August deadline.

The commission said the change came after repeated requests from political parties for more time to complete the nomination process on INEC’s portal. The extension affects state elections, which are part of the broader preparations for the 2027 polls. INEC did not indicate any change to the overall election timetable beyond this nomination window.

The report also noted related election-administration deadlines in Osun State, where INEC is preparing for a governorship election scheduled for 15 August. Haruna said the window for voters replacing lost or damaged permanent voter cards to print downloadable copies would close at midnight on 9 August, so the commission can finalize PVC records ahead of that vote.

In addition, INEC said it had adjusted PVC collection arrangements in Osun after complaints about crowding at collection points, and it reminded voters that cards reportedly stolen in some local government areas cannot be used to vote. The developments highlight the logistics involved in Nigeria’s election preparations and the commission’s efforts to manage party nominations and voter-card processes in parallel.