The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended by three days the deadline for political parties to submit the names and personal particulars of their candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
The commission announced on Sunday that political parties now have until midnight on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, to complete the upload of their candidates on the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal.
The extension came after the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), acting on behalf of several political parties, appealed to the electoral body to allow more time for parties that were unable to complete the nomination process before the original deadline.
INEC disclosed the decision in a statement signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
According to the commission, the original deadline of Saturday, July 11, 2026, contained in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election, has now been shifted to Tuesday, July 14.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission has approved the extension of the deadline for submission of lists of candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly Elections by political parties,” the statement read.
It added: “The deadline for submission in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election, being Saturday 11th July 2026, has been extended to midnight on Tuesday 14th July 2026.”
INEC said the decision reflected its commitment to ensuring that every registered political party has a fair opportunity to participate in the electoral process while remaining within the provisions of the Electoral Act and its approved timetable.
The commission urged political parties yet to complete the process to make good use of the additional time, warning that no submissions would be accepted after the new deadline expires.
The extension comes at a critical stage in preparations for the 2027 general election, as political parties conclude their internal nomination processes and formally present their candidates for the presidential, Senate and House of Representatives elections.
Shortly before INEC announced the extension, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) confirmed that it had successfully completed the upload of all its candidates on the commission’s nomination portal.
APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, announced the development in a post on his verified X account.
“I congratulate our candidates, leaders, and members of APC on the successful 100 per cent upload of our Presidential, Vice Presidential, Senate, and House of Representatives candidates on the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal,” he said.
“With this milestone achieved, our focus now shifts to mobilisation and preparations for a successful campaign and decisive victory at the polls.”
The APC disclosed that it uploaded a total of 471 names to the portal. These include its presidential and vice-presidential candidates, 109 senatorial candidates and 360 candidates for the House of Representatives.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also announced that it had completed the submission of its candidates ahead of the election.
The confirmation came with the backing of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who expressed support for the party’s successful completion of the exercise.
PDP National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed, described the successful upload as another important achievement for the party.
“I am pleased to inform all PDP members and Nigerians that our great party, under my leadership, has successfully uploaded the names of our presidential candidate, his running mate, and our National Assembly candidates onto the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal,” he said.
While INEC’s decision was welcomed by parties still struggling to complete the process, the APC used the development to criticise opposition parties that requested more time.
In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party argued that the request for an extension exposed weaknesses in the internal administration of opposition parties.
The APC acknowledged that INEC acted within its legal powers in granting the extension but insisted that well-organised political parties should have met the original deadline without difficulty.
According to the party, it was surprising that opposition parties, which had fewer candidates to upload than the APC, were unable to complete the process on schedule.
“This development provides yet another clear indication of the opposition’s chronic inherent weakness and raises legitimate questions about their operational capacity,” the APC said.
The ruling party argued that any political party that cannot efficiently conclude its own nomination process may struggle with the demands of governing a country.
It also accused opposition parties of hypocrisy, recalling previous allegations that the APC influenced INEC’s decisions.
The APC noted that despite those accusations, the same opposition parties turned to INEC for additional time after failing to meet the deadline.
The party further stated that it would have benefited if INEC had refused to extend the deadline since it had already completed its submissions, but maintained that it did not interfere with the commission’s decision.
According to the APC, the successful upload of all its candidates demonstrates discipline, organisational strength and commitment to due process.
It urged its members and supporters to remain focused on preparations for the campaigns ahead rather than becoming distracted by political debates.
The submission of candidates marks one of the most important stages in Nigeria’s electoral process. Under the Electoral Act, political parties are required to conduct valid primaries and submit the names and personal particulars of their nominated candidates to INEC within the timelines set by the commission.
Failure to meet the deadline could prevent a political party from fielding candidates for the affected elections, making compliance with the timetable critical.
The extension granted by INEC is therefore expected to provide relief for parties that experienced technical or administrative challenges during the nomination process.
With the new deadline set for Tuesday midnight, attention is now shifting to the next phase of preparations for the 2027 general election, including the publication of candidates’ details, the resolution of disputes arising from party primaries and the commencement of political campaigns in line with the electoral timetable.
As political parties finalise their submissions, INEC has reiterated its commitment to conducting a transparent, credible and inclusive electoral process while ensuring that all activities are carried out strictly in accordance with the law.