Inec announce deadline extension for political parties to submit candidate lists for 2027 general elections

Di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) don announce di extension of deadline for political parties to submit lists of dia candidates for 2027 election.

According to Inec, dis deadline extension na for di Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

Inec make dis announcement for Sunday 12 July, 2026.

Normally, inside Inec election timetable for 2027 elections, na from 27 June 2026 reach 11 July, 2026 be di timeline for di submission of presidential and National Assembly candidate lists.

According to Inec, di submission of di candidates details na through dia portal and di political parties go do dat one afta dem get access code for di submission of nomination forms.

Howeva, day afta di timeline wey di di revised election timetable, Inec say dem dey extend dat timeline by few days.

"Di deadline for submission for di Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for di 2027 General Election na Saturday 11 July 2026 don extend to midnight on Tuesday 14 July, 2026," Inec announce through dia statement.

Wit dis deadline extension, di political parties wey neva submit dia candidate lists go get more time to do dat.

Why Inec extend deadline for submission of candidate list by political parties

Nigeria electoral bodi, Inec dey expect list of candidates from different registered political parties wey dey participate for di 2027 general election.

From Bola Tinubu of di All Progressives Congress (APC) to Peter Obi of di Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Atiku Abubakar of di African Democratic Congress (ADC) and odas - Inec still gatz confam and publish dia names as official candidates of dia respective parties.

Dis na based on di guidelines of di Electoral Act 2026, so parties wey no submit dia candidate names or list no fit contest for di election.

Wit about six months to di 2027 general elections for president, govnors, senators, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly - Inec timetable make am clear how di election go waka.

Na since May 2026 political parties don conclude dia primaries to elect di different candidates wey go represent dem for ballot.

While some political parties alreadi announce who dia candidates be for presidential election, senatorial and govnorship, some parties still get court case to settle.

However, as all of dis dey go on, di Inec timetable in line wit di Electoral Act 2026 clearly state wen all parties suppose complete submission of dia candidate list.

According to Section 29(1) of di Electoral Act 2026, e provide say make political parties submit list of dia candidate not later dan 120 days bifor di election.

Di deadline for di timetable for political parties to submit list of candidates for Presidential and National Assembly seats na 11 July.

But now, e don extend go 14 July, 2026.

Why Inec extend di deadline?

According to Inec, di decision to extend di na sake of di appeal by dose political parties wey neva submit dia candidates details.

"Di decision to extend na based on appeal by di Inter-Party Advisory Council, on behalf of political parties wey dey unable to upload di names and personal particulars of dia candidates within di scheduled timeline."

Inec say make political parties take advantage of di deadline extension to ensure say dem submit and upload all necessary details bifor di new deadline expire.

Wat next for Inec and political parties submission of candidates lists?

Afta submission of nomination forms by political parties, di next tin wey Inec go do na to publish di details of di candidates.

Dis dey in line wit section 29(3) of di Electoral Act 2026 wey state di publication of di candidate list within 21 days wey dem receive am.

Na 1 August Inec go publish names of presidential and National Assembly candidates while dat of govnorship and State Houses of Assembly go come out on 29 August, 2026.

Wit dis, political parties go fit begin campaigns ahead of di 2027 general elections starting wit di presidential and National Assembly, bifor state go kon follow.

Also, di Inec timetable still make am possible for political parties to withdraw and replace candidates - in line wit Section 31 of di Electoral Act 2026 wey provide not later dan 90 days to di election.

Political parties get till 22 August and 19 September for withdrawal of any candidate wey dem wan replace for federal and state seats respectively.

Again, afta di whole activities, Inec go kon still publish anoda final list of candidates and dia parties, at least 60 days bifor di elections.

Dis final list go remain unchanged till election date, and campaigns go continue for di parties.