INEC extends candidates’ upload deadline, suspends PVC collection in Osun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to upload their governorship and state House of Assembly candidates on its online portal.

The deadline, initially set for August 8, has been moved to August 11, 2026, following appeals from political parties for additional time to complete the process.

INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee chairman, Mohammed Haruna, announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday.

“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. The extension follows growing appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process,” Haruna said.

The commission also announced the suspension of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

INEC said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVCs have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards, allowing the commission to compile final figures on PVC collection.

It also said replacement downloadable PVCs had been provided for voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas whose cards were reportedly carted away by hoodlums during attacks on two collection centres. The commission stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.

PVC collection in Osun began at the registration area level on July 22 and was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties at collection centres. It subsequently moved to the local government level from August 1 to 7.