INEC extends deadline for 2027 election candidate nominations to July 14, 2026
INEC has shifted the deadline for political parties to submit the names and personal particulars of their candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections from Saturday, July 11, 2026 to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. The three‑day extension follows a formal appeal by the Inter‑Party Advisory Council, which said parties were struggling to upload candidate details through INEC’s online nomination portal. INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, announced the change in a statement on Sunday, saying the move promotes inclusivity while staying within the legal framework. He urged parties to use the extra window promptly and complete all uploads before the new cutoff.
The adjustment comes after INEC earlier this year revised the election timetable, setting the presidential and National Assembly polls for Saturday, January 16, 2027. The commission has been consulting parties, finalising the schedule, and preparing voter registration drives. With the new deadline, parties now have until July 14 to finalise their candidate lists, a period that could affect campaign planning, fundraising, and voter outreach.
Will the extra three days resolve the upload challenges parties faced, or will logistical hurdles persist and affect the credibility of the candidate lists?