Electoral commission grants political parties a three-day reprieve after appeals over technical difficulties with the nomination portal

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the INEC candidate submission deadline for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections by three days, reversing its earlier insistence that there would be no extension after political parties reported technical challenges with the nomination portal.

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Announcing the decision in Abuja on Sunday, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said political parties now have until midnight on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, to upload the names and personal particulars of their candidates. The original deadline expired on Saturday, 11 July 2026.

The decision followed an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which urged the electoral commission to reconsider its position after several parties complained that technical and administrative issues prevented them from completing their submissions on time.

In a statement, Haruna said, “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.”

He added that “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.”

According to the commission, the extension reflects its commitment to conducting an inclusive electoral process while remaining within the provisions of the law.

“The extension underscores the commission’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity in its practices while acting within the ambit of the law,” the statement said.

INEC also urged political parties to use the additional three-day window effectively.

“The commission enjoins political parties to take advantage of this window of opportunity and ensure that all necessary details are uploaded before the expiration of the new deadline,” Haruna stated.

The extension marks a significant shift from INEC’s earlier stance. Before Saturday’s deadline, the commission had repeatedly maintained that there would be no further extension, despite mounting pressure from political parties experiencing difficulties with the online nomination system.

Among the parties that publicly called for a review was the Young Progressives Party (YPP), which argued that aspirants should not lose the opportunity to participate because of technical problems beyond their control.

INEC had also disclosed before the deadline that several major political parties were yet to complete the submission of their presidential and National Assembly candidates, raising concerns about the pace of the nomination process.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) later announced that it had successfully uploaded the details of its 471 candidates contesting the presidential and National Assembly elections.

The revised deadline comes as preparations for the 2027 general election gather momentum.

Candidate nomination is one of the most critical stages of the electoral timetable, allowing political parties to formally present those who will contest elective offices.

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The latest extension is expected to ease pressure on affected parties while helping to ensure broader participation in the nomination process before the portal closes at midnight on Tuesday.