The Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to conduct their chairmanship and councillorship primary elections ahead of the state’s forthcoming local government elections.
The commission shifted the deadline from Monday, July 27, to Wednesday, August 5, 2026, giving political parties an additional nine days to complete the processes required for the nomination of their candidates.
The OYSIEC Chairman, Dr. Afees Adeniyi, announced the extension in a statement issued on Monday and made available to journalists in Ibadan.
According to the statement, the decision followed a request by the Oyo State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which sought additional time for political parties to complete the administrative and statutory processes necessary for the successful conduct of their primaries.
IPAC, in a letter signed by its Secretary, Hon. Dairo Olayinka, had requested a one-week extension, arguing that the additional time would enable participating political parties to properly organise their structures and documentation.
The council said the extension would also contribute to a more credible, inclusive and transparent electoral process.
Adeniyi explained that after considering the request, the commission approved a nine-day extension to accommodate all registered political parties that have indicated interest in participating in the local government elections scheduled for December 29, 2026.
He said the new period for the conduct of the party primaries would run from Tuesday, July 28, to Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
The OYSIEC chairman, however, clarified that all other dates and activities contained in the commission’s revised election timetable and guidelines remain unchanged.
He urged all affected political parties to take full advantage of the extension by conducting their primaries within the stipulated period and forwarding the names of their successful candidates to the commission as required.
Adeniyi also commended the political parties for their continued cooperation with the commission and urged them to strictly adhere to the electoral guidelines throughout the conduct of their primaries.
The statement partly read: “The commission received a letter from the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) requesting an extension of the date scheduled for the conduct of the local government chairmanship and councillorship primary elections by political parties in Oyo State.
“The council requested a one-week extension. The commission deliberated on the request and graciously approved a nine-day extension to ensure that all interested political parties are adequately accommodated in the electoral process.”
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