2027 Elections: INEC Sources Say No Political Party Met Initial Candidate Upload Deadline Before Extension

ABUJA, Nigeria — Fresh information from sources within the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised questions over public claims that some political parties complied with the commission’s original deadline for submitting National Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to multiple officials familiar with the process, no registered political party—including the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and others—successfully completed the upload of all candidates into INEC’s nomination portal before the initial July 11, 2026 deadline.

The revelation comes after several political parties publicly commented on the extension granted by INEC, with differing explanations over why additional time became necessary.

INEC Extension Reportedly Benefited All Political Parties

Sources within the electoral commission disclosed that the deadline extension from July 11 to July 14, 2026, was not exclusively designed to accommodate opposition parties as previously suggested in some political statements.

According to officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal administrative matters, significant numbers of candidate records across several political parties had not been successfully uploaded before the original closing date.

One source claimed that even within the APC, a substantial portion of candidate information remained outstanding before the commission decided to extend the submission period.

The officials further alleged that INEC adjusted internal administrative processes to ensure political parties could complete the electronic submission of candidates within the revised deadline.

APC Previously Maintained It Met Original Deadline

The development contrasts with an earlier position taken by the APC.

In a statement issued on July 12, the party announced that it had successfully submitted the names of its candidates before the original deadline despite managing what it described as one of the largest candidate lists among Nigeria’s political parties.

The APC also argued that the extension granted by INEC was requested because several opposition parties failed to conclude their nomination processes on time.

Party spokesperson Felix Morka further criticized opposition parties, questioning their administrative readiness and suggesting that parties unable to complete internal nomination procedures may struggle with governance responsibilities.

The party additionally described it as contradictory for opposition parties—who had previously accused the ruling party of influencing INEC—to later seek additional time from the same electoral commission.

INEC Confirmed Extension Followed Appeal by Political Parties

INEC has publicly confirmed that the deadline extension formed part of its administrative decision after receiving an appeal through the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

In an official statement signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission explained that political parties requested more time to upload candidates’ names and personal particulars into the dedicated nomination portal.

However, INEC’s public statement did not identify which specific parties had fully complied before the original deadline or which ones had outstanding submissions.

Internal APC Dispute Emerges Over Candidate Selection

While discussions over submission deadlines continue, the APC is also facing internal disagreements surrounding candidate nominations in parts of the country.

On Tuesday, party members and aspirants from Apa State Constituency in Benue State staged a protest outside the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.

The protesters alleged that efforts were being made to impose a preferred candidate rather than allowing delegates to choose through an open primary election.

Representatives of the protesters argued that transparent primaries are essential for maintaining unity within the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

They also called on the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the party leadership to intervene and ensure that all aspirants receive equal treatment during the nomination process.

Among the allegations raised was a claim that influential individuals were attempting to bypass established procedures by issuing what protesters described as a “same-day ticket” to a preferred aspirant.

At the time of reporting, the APC leadership had not issued an official response to the protest, while the allegations remained independently unverified.

Why This Matters

Candidate nomination is one of the most critical stages in Nigeria’s electoral process. Failure to comply with INEC’s timetable can affect a political party’s eligibility to field candidates for elective offices if statutory requirements are not eventually satisfied.

The latest claims also highlight the administrative challenges political parties continue to face during large-scale candidate submissions, particularly as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.

Although INEC has confirmed extending the deadline after receiving requests from political parties, the differing accounts regarding which parties initially complied are likely to remain a subject of political debate unless the electoral commission provides additional clarification.

Timeline of Events

• July 11, 2026: Original INEC deadline for uploading National Assembly candidates.
• July 12, 2026: APC announced it had met the deadline and said opposition parties sought an extension.
• Subsequently: IPAC appealed to INEC on behalf of parties requiring additional time.
• July 14, 2026: Revised deadline approved by INEC.
• Current: INEC sources claim no political party completed submissions before the original deadline.

What to Watch Next

Attention will now shift to whether INEC releases additional information regarding compliance levels among political parties and whether disputes arising from party primaries could generate legal challenges before the 2027 elections.

Political observers will also monitor whether unresolved nomination disagreements within parties influence preparations for the forthcoming general elections.