Amupitan

By Sabiu Abdullahi

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

The commission moved the deadline from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

Mohammed Haruna, chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, 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 statement reads.

According to the commission, the decision followed requests from several political parties for more time to complete the submission process.

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

INEC also announced the end of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

It said voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs had until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.

“In a related development, the commission wishes to notify voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced PVC that the window to print downloadable copies of their cards will expire by midnight of Sunday, 9th August, 2026,” the statement added.

The commission said the measure would enable it to determine the final number of PVCs collected before the election.

“This is to allow the commission to compile the data of downloaded PVCs for final statistics of total PVCs collected ahead of the August 15th Osun governorship election.”

INEC also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been provided for voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas whose cards were reportedly taken during an invasion of two collection centres.

“The commission also wishes to state that replacement downloadable PVCs have been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife central local government areas whose cards were carted away by hoodlums who invaded the two centres. The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote,” INEC said.

Haruna explained that the PVC collection exercise in Osun began at the Registration Area level on July 22 and was initially scheduled to end on July 28.

“It will be recalled that the collection of PVCs in Osun State commenced at the Registration Area (RA) level from 22nd to 28th July, 2026,” he said.

He added that the commission extended the exercise after voters complained about overcrowding and challenges at collection centres.

“Owing to complaints of large crowds and difficulties encountered by voters at collection centres, the commission approved an extension of RA-level collection to 31st July, 2026, before collection moved to LGA level, running from 1st to 7th August, 2026.”

INEC restated its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election in Osun State on August 15.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has called for a review of the commission’s funding structure. He said direct funding from the federation account would strengthen INEC’s independence and improve the credibility of elections in Nigeria.

Amupitan made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the public presentation of Shadows: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), a two-volume book written by THISDAY Managing Director, Eniola Bello.

He argued that although the Constitution places INEC on the first-line charge, the existing funding arrangement does not provide the commission with genuine financial autonomy because it still depends on the annual budget and appropriation process.

> “Experience over the years has shown that as long as INEC is still subject to the normal envelope system and the processes of appropriation, having to go to the national assembly, it is very difficult to operate in such a situation without wasting your time,” Amupitan said.



The INEC chairman explained that the commission’s responsibilities go beyond conducting presidential and National Assembly elections. He noted that it also conducts governorship and state assembly elections, registers and regulates political parties, and maintains the national register of voters.

According to him, governorship and state assembly elections are more expensive to conduct than presidential and National Assembly polls. He said this makes the current funding model inadequate.

> “It is for this reason we feel that although the Constitution tried to place INEC on the first-line charge, it is not strong enough,” the INEC chairman said.



> “INEC should come as part of the federation account so that we can have seamless operations and what we call operational efficiency.”



Amupitan also called for further amendments to the Electoral Act to strengthen INEC’s supervisory powers over political parties. He said greater authority would help ensure parties comply with their constitutions, the Nigerian Constitution, and the Electoral Act. He added that such reforms could reduce the number of pre-election court cases.

He disclosed that the commission is considering a mediation mechanism that would resolve internal party disputes within 3 months instead of lengthy litigation.

The INEC chairman further proposed that all disputes involving political parties should be concluded at least 1 year before a general election to prevent last-minute legal battles from affecting the electoral process.

The call comes months after President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026 (Amendment) Bill into law and amid ongoing legal and legislative developments aimed at reforming Nigeria’s electoral system.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, is set to deliver the keynote address at the launch of a new book that examines Nigeria’s democratic journey since the country’s return to civilian rule.

The publication, titled SHADOWS: Protest Essays on Africa’s Most Consequential Country (1999–2023), spans more than 900 pages across two volumes. It documents major political developments and democratic experiences in Nigeria between 1999 and 2023.

Amupitan is expected to speak on the theme, “Strengthening Electoral Institutions: Pathways to Free, Fair, and Peaceful Elections in 2027.” His presentation will focus on reforms aimed at improving Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to the organisers, the book presents an account of Nigeria’s democratic evolution. It highlights institutional growth, policy achievements, and governance challenges that have influenced the country’s political landscape.

The essays also examine issues such as corruption, insecurity, human rights abuses, leadership, policy failures, executive-legislature relations, the cost of governance, and public accountability.

In addition, the publication discusses political godfatherism, internal democracy within political parties, electoral malpractice, the use of religion in politics, elite hypocrisy, ethnic mobilisation, and the influence of money on Nigeria’s political process.

The organisers said the book provides a historical record of the personalities, events, and issues that have shaped Nigeria’s politics and power structure since 1999. They added that it also reflects on how those developments continue to influence the country’s democratic trajectory.