Anxiety as INEC set to publish particulars of presidential, NASS candidates tomorrow

Fresh anxiety has gripped presidential and federal legislative candidates across political parties as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to publish their personal particulars tomorrow.

This follows reports of the substitution of candidates in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Nigerian Tribune learnt that affected members had reached out to the top hierarchy of the two parties who were said to have handled some of the cases based on its merit.

The commission has fixed August 1st, 2026 for the publication of personal particulars of presidential and National Assembly candidates (EC9) in line with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, which provides for the action within 21 days of receipt.

Political parties stopped the upload of the names, personal particulars, and other required information relating to their nominated presidential and federal legislative candidates on Tuesday, July 14 after 72 hours’ extension of the deadline.

In its revised timetable, the electoral body had initially said political parties must submit nominations for Presidential and National Assembly candidates from Saturday, June 27 to Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 provides for not later than 120 days before the election for the submission of forms EC9 (personal particulars of candidates) and EC9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E (names/list of nominated presidential and National Assembly candidates) online.

When contacted to know if the commission would extend the date set for the publication of particulars, following the extension of the deadline for submission by 72 hours, INEC Deputy Director, Publicity, Wilfred Osilama Ifogah, said: “I doubt. it might not necessarily affect it. It’s just for the Commission to put the information together and submit it. This is my opinion. I’m not talking officially. When it gets to the time, you will see whether the commission will publish it or not.”

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Meanwhile, the online upload of the names, personal particulars, and other required information relating to the nominated governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates scheduled to hold between Saturday, July 18 and, Saturday, August 8, 2026 is still ongoing.

The publication of personal particulars of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates (EC9) has already been fixed for Saturday, August 29, 2026.

It would be recalled that the party primaries that produced candidates in various political parties took place between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

Already, Presidential and National Assembly elections have been fixed for Saturday, 16th January 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 6th February 2027.