INEC Extends Candidate Submission Deadline, Suspends PVC Collection in Osun
The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the lists of candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for the 2027 General Election.
INEC announced the extension in a statement issued by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, on Saturday.
The commission said the submission window, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026, had been extended to Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following appeals from political parties for additional time to complete the process.
The affected candidates are those contesting governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections in the February 2027 General Election.
In a related development, INEC announced the suspension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards in Osun State ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs had until midnight on Sunday, August 9, 2026, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
According to INEC, the deadline was necessary to enable it to compile data on downloaded PVCs and determine the final statistics of cards collected ahead of the governorship election.
The commission recalled that PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026.
It said the exercise was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres.
Collection subsequently moved to the local government level from August 1 to 7, 2026.
INEC also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas, where original cards were reportedly carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two collection centres.
The commission, however, reassured affected voters that the stolen PVCs could not be used to cast ballots.
INEC urged voters and other stakeholders to take note of the latest developments as preparations intensify for the Osun governorship election.
The electoral body reiterated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in the state on August 15.
