By Chesa Chesa
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for extending the deadline for the upload of presidential and National Assembly candidates by three days, describing the decision as a demonstration of fairness, inclusiveness and commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Prof. Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, the party expressed appreciation to the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), for approving the extension following an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).
The deadline, which was initially scheduled to expire on Saturday, July 11, 2026, has now been extended to Tuesday, July 14, 2026.
According to the SDP, the extension provides political parties with additional time to complete the upload of their presidential and National Assembly candidates and resolve outstanding administrative issues that arose during the nomination process.
The party noted that the first three days of the exercise, which commenced on June 26, 2026, were effectively lost due to circumstances beyond the control of political parties, making the extension necessary to ensure broader participation and the integrity of the nomination exercise.
“The timely decision demonstrates INEC’s commitment to inclusiveness, fairness and the strengthening of Nigeria’s democratic process,” the statement said.
The SDP also lauded the leadership of IPAC, led by its National Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, for what it described as constructive engagement and effective representation of the interests of registered political parties.
The party said the successful intervention by IPAC underscored the importance of sustained dialogue, collaboration and mutual respect among stakeholders in Nigeria’s democratic process.
It expressed confidence that the cooperation between INEC and IPAC would deepen institutional trust, encourage stronger collaboration among political actors and contribute to the continued growth of Nigeria’s democracy.
