The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the names and credentials of candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The commission announced that political parties now have until midnight on Tuesday, July 14, to upload the names and personal particulars of their presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates, extending the previous deadline of Saturday, July 11.
Under INEC’s timetable for the 2027 general election, parties were required to complete the submission of candidates’ details through the commission’s online portal within the earlier deadline.
Explaining the extension, INEC said the decision followed appeals from political parties that were unable to complete the process on schedule.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the request was formally conveyed through the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
According to him, IPAC sought additional time on behalf of political parties that had yet to upload the names and personal particulars of their candidates.
“The decision to extend was based on an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council on behalf of political parties that were unable to upload the names and personal particulars of their candidates within the scheduled timeline,” Haruna said.
He noted that the extension was intended to provide all eligible political parties with a fair opportunity to comply with the commission’s requirements while remaining within the legal timetable for the elections.
INEC urged political parties to make full use of the additional time by completing the submission of all required information before the revised deadline.
“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.
