The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit their candidates for the 2027 governorship and State House of Assembly elections to Tuesday, August 11.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, announced the extension in a statement issued in Abuja.

Haruna said the decision followed appeals from political parties seeking additional time to complete the upload of their candidates’ nominations on the commission’s dedicated online portal.

The submission deadline was originally set for Saturday, August 8, under INEC’s revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.

“The extension follows growing appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process,” Haruna said.

Meanwhile, INEC has reminded Osun residents who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) that the deadline for printing downloadable copies expires at midnight on Sunday, August 9.

Haruna said the deadline would allow the commission to compile data on downloaded PVCs and determine the final number of collected cards ahead of the August 15 Osun governorship election.

He recalled that PVC collection in Osun initially took place at Registration Area centres from July 22 to July 28 before being extended to July 31 following complaints about overcrowding and difficulties at some collection points.

The exercise subsequently moved to Local Government Area centres from August 1 to August 7.

Haruna also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.

He, however, assured voters that the stolen cards could not be used to cast ballots.

“The commission also wishes to state that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” he said.

The INEC commissioner reassured Osun residents that the commission was fully prepared to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on August 15.