The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially pushed back the deadline for political parties to finalize their nominations for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly races. This shift follows a previous declaration by the electoral body that the original cutoff would be final.
In a formal update released on Sunday, the commission confirmed that the window for candidate submissions, which originally closed on July 11, has been shifted to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. This adjustment comes after INEC initially resisted calls for more time, despite reports from various political organizations regarding technical difficulties with the nomination portal.
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, noted that the change was prompted by a direct request from the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). By providing this three-day grace period, the commission aims to foster broader participation and fulfill its legal obligations. INEC has strongly advised all parties to utilize this remaining time to ensure their candidate information is uploaded properly before the new expiration date.
