The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to publish the personal particulars of all presidential and National Assembly candidates contesting the 2027 general elections, giving Nigerians the opportunity to scrutinise the credentials of those seeking elective offices.
The electoral umpire will display the details on Saturday, August 1, 2026, at its offices across the country in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The publication will include the statutory Form EC9, which contains the personal particulars submitted by candidates nominated by their respective political parties.
The move is in compliance with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, which mandates INEC to make candidates’ particulars available for public inspection within 21 days of receiving nominations.
Political parties completed the submission of the names and credentials of their presidential and National Assembly candidates on July 14, 2026, after INEC granted a 72-hour extension to the original deadline.
The extension followed the commission’s earlier timetable, which fixed the submission window between June 27 and July 11, 2026.
Under Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, political parties are required to submit Forms EC9, EC9A, EC9B, EC9C, EC9D and EC9E containing the names, personal information and supporting documents of their nominated candidates at least 120 days before the election.
INEC Yet To Confirm Effect Of Deadline Extension
Although concerns had been raised over whether the additional three-day submission window would affect the publication date, INEC has maintained its schedule.
Speaking on the issue, the Commission’s Deputy Director of Publicity, Wilfred Osilama Ifogah, said he did not anticipate any change, while stressing that his comment did not represent the official position of the Commission.
According to him, the extension was primarily to allow INEC collate and process submissions, adding that the commission would communicate any changes if necessary.
Meanwhile, the nomination process for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates remains ongoing.
INEC opened the online portal for those categories on July 18, with submissions expected to close on August 8, 2026.
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The commission has scheduled August 29, 2026, for the publication of the personal particulars of governorship and State Assembly candidates through Form EC9.
Party primaries that produced candidates for the 2027 elections were conducted between April 23 and May 30, 2026, paving the way for the nomination process.
According to INEC’s election timetable, Nigerians will head to the polls for the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will follow on February 6, 2027.
With the publication of candidates’ personal particulars, the electoral process enters another critical phase, allowing citizens, political parties and interested stakeholders to examine the credentials submitted by aspirants before the campaigns gather full momentum.