Candidates’ Submission: INEC Extends Deadline, APC Mocks Opposition For Failing To Meet Timeline

By Ademu Idakwo and James Kwen, Abuja

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has questioned the organisational capacity of opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general election, following the extension of the deadline for submitting candidates’ names to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, observed in a statement that the ruling party beat the original deadline set by INEC for the upload of candidates’ names to the commission’s electronic portal.

Yilwatda said the APC completed the electronic upload of its candidates for all elective positions ahead of the 8 August deadline set by the electoral commission for the 2027 general elections.

Recall that INEC, on Saturday, announced the extension of the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

The Commission said the deadline, which was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8 August 2026, has now been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026.

INEC said the extension followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the process of uploading their candidates’ lists on the dedicated portal.

The Commission announced the extension in a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

But Yilwatda, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, described the APC’s early completion of the exercise as evidence of its organisational strength, internal coordination, and preparedness for the elections.

He said the achievement demonstrated that the party had moved beyond political slogans to building the structures and systems required to run a nationwide political organisation.

In a veiled jab at the opposition, the APC national chairman said, “Governance is not an experiment. The management of a country as complex as Nigeria requires planning, coordination, discipline, competence, and the ability to deliver within deadlines.

“If a political organisation cannot effectively organise its own internal processes, coordinate its candidates, and meet simple statutory and administrative deadlines, Nigerians must ask serious questions about its preparedness to manage the affairs of the nation,” he added.

Yilwatda urged voters to look beyond campaign promises when assessing political parties ahead of the 2027 elections. He posited that internal organisation, compliance with electoral rules, and the ability to manage people and resources should also be part of the assessment.

“The APC has once again demonstrated that we are prepared for the responsibility of governing Nigeria. We did not wait until the last minute,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Osa Director, welcomed INEC’s extension of the deadline for submitting governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates.

He said the extension must have taken into account the challenges many political parties faced in uploading their candidates’ particulars.

The Director also called for a violence-free, transparent, and credible election in Saturday’s Osun State governorship poll.

“The INEC extension is a good thing as it must have taken into consideration the challenges faced by many political parties in uploading the names of their governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates. It is a welcome development.

“What we need in Osun State is a violence-free election that is transparent and credible,” he stated in a chat with LEADERSHIP.

When asked about the extension, the National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Bolaji Abdullahi, said: “There is nothing to say to this.”

Reacting to the extension, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) said INEC must ensure its decisions are firmly grounded in the Electoral Act, applicable regulations and guidelines, and the principles of fairness, transparency, and equal treatment of all political parties and candidates.

The Executive Director of CISLAC/Chairman, TMG, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, in a chat with LEADERSHIP, said the extension of the candidate-upload deadline raises important questions about electoral certainty and compliance with established timelines.

He said electoral deadlines are not merely administrative conveniences. They are essential safeguards designed to ensure predictability, fairness, and a level playing field.

“Where INEC considers an extension necessary, the Commission must clearly communicate the legal and administrative basis for its decision and ensure that the opportunity applies equally to all affected political parties.

“We particularly caution against repeated adjustments to electoral timelines in circumstances that could create perceptions that deadlines are being modified to accommodate particular political interests.

“Political parties also have a responsibility to comply with established deadlines. Administrative inefficiency or internal party disputes should ordinarily not serve as grounds for repeatedly altering the electoral calendar.

“As Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections, INEC must strengthen discipline around its timelines. Electoral certainty is essential to public confidence,” he added.