The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit and upload their lists of candidates for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections in the February 2027 general election.

The commission also announced that replacement downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas of Osun State whose cards were stolen by hoodlums, ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed the developments in a statement.

According to the commission, the deadline for uploading candidates’ lists, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, August 8, 2026, under the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general election, has been extended to Tuesday, August 11.

INEC said the extension followed growing appeals from political parties seeking additional time to complete the submission process.

The commission also notified voters who applied for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs that the window for printing downloadable copies of their cards will close at midnight on Sunday, August 9.

Haruna said the deadline would enable the commission to compile data on downloaded PVCs and determine the final statistics for cards collected ahead of the Osun governorship election.

“This is to allow the commission compile the data of downloaded PVCs for final statistics of total PVCs collected ahead of the August 15 Osun Governorship Election,” he said.

INEC recalled that PVC collection in Osun State commenced at Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, but was subsequently extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres.

Collection thereafter moved to the local government level from August 1 to 7.

The commission also addressed the theft of PVCs during attacks on collection centres in Odo-Otin and Ife Central LGAs.

“The commission also wishes to state that replacement of 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,” INEC said.

It stressed that the stolen PVCs could not be used to vote in the election.

The commission reassured residents of Osun State that preparations were in place for the August 15 governorship poll, reiterating its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive election. (AriseNews TV)

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