INEC Extends 2027 Candidate Deadline as APC Blames Opposition Weakness

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that the deadline for political parties to upload the names and personal details of their presidential and National Assembly candidates for the 2027 general election has been moved from 11 July 2026 to midnight on 14 July 2026. The three‑day extension was granted after the Inter‑Party Advisory Council (IPAC) appealed on behalf of parties that had not completed the upload.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) used the extension to criticize opposition parties, stating that their failure to meet the original deadline demonstrated “chronic weakness” and a lack of organisational capacity. APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka said the party had successfully uploaded all 471 of its candidates – including President Bola Tinubu and Vice‑President Kashim Shettima – before the initial deadline. The APC further accused the opposition of hypocrisy for seeking relief from INEC after missing the deadline.

Other parties reacted differently. A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) confirmed that it had uploaded its presidential, vice‑presidential and National Assembly candidates to INEC’s portal, describing the step as a “major milestone” in its 2027 preparations. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) praised INEC’s decision as a demonstration of fairness and inclusiveness, while the APC reiterated that the extension reflected pressure from opposition parties rather than any weakness in the commission itself. Across the board, parties are now urged to complete any outstanding submissions before the new deadline.