INEC extends deadline for 2027 presidential, National Assembly candidates’ nominations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 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 following appeals from stakeholders seeking additional time to complete the nomination process.

The commission announced that political parties now have until midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to upload the details of their candidates on its Candidate Nomination Portal, extending the previous deadline of Saturday, July 11.

The decision is expected to provide relief for parties that encountered challenges while processing and submitting their candidates’ information within the initial timeframe.

INEC announces new deadline

The extension was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

According to the commission, the revised deadline followed requests made through the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which appealed on behalf of political parties that were unable to conclude the submission process before the original closing date.

INEC said the additional period would allow affected parties to complete the upload of their candidates’ names and personal particulars without disrupting the overall timetable for the 2027 general election.

The electoral body stressed that the extension was granted after careful consideration of the requests presented by political parties.

Decision guided by Electoral Act

The commission explained that the extension was approved in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and its commitment to ensuring an inclusive electoral process.

It noted that giving political parties additional time would help promote wider participation while maintaining compliance with the legal framework governing elections in the country.

INEC also reiterated its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible and orderly nomination process for all registered political parties participating in the 2027 elections.

The commission maintained that the adjustment does not affect other activities contained in the election timetable.

Political parties urged to act

INEC called on all political parties to make effective use of the extra three-day window by completing the upload of all required information before the new deadline expires.

The commission advised parties to avoid waiting until the final hours before submitting their candidates’ details, warning that late submissions could create unnecessary difficulties.

It encouraged party officials to ensure that all required documents and personal particulars are correctly uploaded through the online nomination portal within the stipulated period.

Extension follows reported challenges

The decision comes after reports that some political parties experienced technical and logistical difficulties while attempting to submit their candidates’ details through INEC’s electronic nomination system.

The appeals prompted IPAC to seek an extension on behalf of affected parties, arguing that additional time would enable them to complete the process without disenfranchising eligible candidates.

With the revised deadline now fixed for July 14, political parties are expected to intensify efforts to finalise outstanding nominations before attention shifts to subsequent stages of preparations for the 2027 general election, including governorship and State House of Assembly candidate submissions in line with INEC’s election timetable.