The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has granted a three-day extension for political parties to submit the names and credentials of their candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The deadline, originally set for Saturday, July 11, 2026, has been moved to midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026.

Reason for the Extension

The electoral body adjusted the timeline following a request from the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC). Political parties reported experiencing technical difficulties while attempting to upload candidate profiles and documentation onto the commission’s dedicated nomination portal.

According to a statement from Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the adjustment is intended to provide all political entities a fair opportunity to finalize their submissions within legal frameworks.

Key Timelines and Election Dates

The nomination window originally opened on June 27, 2026, following updates to the legal framework that altered the broader election schedule. The revised calendar outlines the following key dates:

• July 14, 2026: Revised deadline for uploading Presidential and National Assembly candidate nominations.

• August 14, 2026: Public display of submitted candidate particulars for public scrutiny.

• January 16, 2027: Presidential and National Assembly elections.

• February 6, 2027: Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

Next Steps

Following the close of the new nomination window, the commission will publish the submitted candidate details to allow for public vetting. INEC emphasized that this will be the final extension and urged all remaining political parties to complete their uploads immediately to avoid disqualification.