The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit their lists of nominated candidates for the upcoming governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
​Originally scheduled to close at 11:59 PM on Saturday, August 8, 2026, the submission portal will now remain open until Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
​The decision was announced in an official statement issued from the INEC Headquarters in Abuja on Saturday night by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
​According to the commission, the extension was granted after several political leaderships submitted formal appeals requesting additional time to navigate administrative delays and finalize candidate documentation on the dedicated INEC online portal.
​”The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” stated Haruna. “This decision follows persistent appeals by registered political parties seeking additional time to complete the upload process on the dedicated candidate nomination portal.”
​INEC emphasized that no further extensions will be granted beyond midnight on Tuesday, August 11, urging all participating political parties to utilize the window to complete their submissions and prevent candidate disqualification.
