INEC extends deadline for upload of guber, house of assembly candidates on portal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the upload of candidates for the governorship and state houses of assembly polls.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Mohammed Haruna, chairman of INEC’s information and voter education committee, said the deadline was extended from August 8 to 11.

“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.”

Haruna said the commission has also suspended the collection of permanent voter cards (PVCs) in Osun ahead of the state’s governorship election.

“In a related development, the commission wishes to notify voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVC that the window to print downloadable copies of their cards will expire by midnight of Sunday, 9th August, 2026,” the statement added.

“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.”

Haruna said the commission has provided a downloadable alternative for voters whose PVCs were carted away by hoodlums.

“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 said.

Haruna noted that collection of PVCs in Osun, which commenced on July 22, was extended due to complaints.

“It will be recalled that the collection of PVCs in Osun State commenced at the Registration Area (RA) level from 22nd to 28th July, 2026,” he said.

“Owing to complaints of large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres, the commission approved an extension of RA-level collection to 31st July, 2026, before collection moved to LGA level, running from 1st to 7th August, 2026.”

The commissioner reiterated the umpire’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible, and inclusive governorship election in Osun state.(TheCable)