The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has set 13 August 2026 as the new deadline for all political campaigns ahead of the Osun state governorship election. Polling day has been moved to 15 August 2026, following a revised timetable released in February for the 2027 General Election. The shift from the original date of 8 August to 15 August prompted the adjustment in the campaign closure, now fixed at midnight on 13 August. According to Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, all campaigns must end at least 24 hours before voting begins. Mohammed Haruna, INEC's national commissioner for information and voter education, confirmed the change in a statement, urging political parties, candidates and stakeholders to comply strictly. He reiterated INEC's commitment to ensuring free, fair and credible elections across Nigeria.
INEC's adjustment of the Osun campaign deadline exposes the knock-on effects of rescheduling an election at the national level. The shift to 15 August 2026, decided months in advance, forces parties to recalibrate their campaign strategies precisely when momentum matters most. Mohammed Haruna's emphasis on compliance with Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 shows the commission is prioritizing legal adherence over political convenience. For voters and candidates in Osun, this means a tighter final stretch with no room for last-minute rallies, reshaping how campaigns are conducted in the state's crucial governorship race.
💡 NaijaBuzz is an AI-assisted news aggregator. This content is curated from third-party sources — NaijaBuzz is not the original publisher and is not responsible for the accuracy of source reporting. The NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion only, not established fact. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. NaijaBuzz does not endorse the views expressed in source articles.
