Nigeria’s electoral calendar shifts to state-level contests this weekend, with INEC opening its portal for governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidate submissions from 9 am Saturday, July 18, through 6 pm August 8.
The window follows the recent close of presidential and National Assembly nominations, a process marked by missed deadlines and a last-minute extension after party appeals through the Inter-Party Advisory Council.
INEC will publish governorship and assembly candidates’ personal particulars by August 29, ahead of the February 6, 2027, gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
Political analysts expect this phase to prove more contentious than the National Assembly submissions, given unresolved primary disputes in several states. In Kano, rival ADC and NDC factions are contesting governorship tickets in court. Zamfara’s APC and Benue’s APC have both faced internal protests over alleged candidate imposition, while Bauchi’s APC postponed and rescheduled its primary amid disagreements.
INEC has given no indication it will extend the August 8 deadline, raising questions over whether parties can resolve internal disputes in time.
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