Figures cited by Vanguard show that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit their official lists of candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly Elections. Originally scheduled to close on July 11, the portal remained open until midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
National Commissioner Mohammed Kudu Haruna confirmed that the extension was granted following a desperate plea from the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). Several political parties had reported technical challenges and internal delays in finalizing and uploading their candidates’ biometric and personal details.
Validating the electoral timeline change, Champion News reported that “INEC’s decision emphasizes its commitment to facilitating an inclusive process while staying strictly within legal bounds”. Further+more, Authority Newspaper noted that the ruling APC criticised opposition parties, claiming “their inability to meet the initial upload schedule exposes a glaring lack of internal organization”.
Echotitbits take: This extension highlights the technical and administrative bottlenecks still faced by political parties under the digitized nomination system. While the three-day grace period eased immediate tension, parties must modernize their internal secretariats to avoid last-minute panics as 2027 approaches.
Source: The Guardian – https://guardian.ng/featured/2027-inec-extends-deadline-for-submission-of-presidential-national-assembly-candidates-list/, July 14, 2026
Photo credit: The Guardian
