APC Set to Upload Tinubu, Running Mate Before INEC Deadline This Week

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is set to upload the names of President Bola Tinubu and his running mate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal this week as it moves to beat the deadline for the submission of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The ruling party said it was making steady progress with the nomination process and remained confident of meeting INEC’s July 11 deadline for the submission of presidential and National Assembly candidates.

A senior member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the upload of candidates’ details was already at an advanced stage.

According to the source, the names of President Tinubu and his running mate are expected to be uploaded on or before Wednesday.

“We are progressing smoothly with the uploading of the details of our National Assembly candidates.

“We hope that on or before next Wednesday, we shall upload the details of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate. We are completely sure of meeting the July 11 deadline for uploading all our candidates on the INEC portal,” the source said.

Checks at the APC’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) department at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja indicated that officials have continued to process candidates’ nominations through the INEC portal without disruption.

Party sources said details of several serving lawmakers, including principal officers of the 10th National Assembly, have already been uploaded.

They added that the nominations of four serving governors seeking election to the Senate in 2027 have also been submitted. They are Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.

The ongoing exercise follows the party’s review of its primary elections, which led to changes in some of its National Assembly candidates.

The APC recently submitted a revised list to INEC after its National Working Committee adopted the recommendations of the Primary Election Appeal Committee, replacing six senatorial candidates and 19 House of Representatives candidates who emerged from the party’s May primaries.

The changes affected constituencies in Abia, Benue, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo and Taraba states.

The revised list was conveyed to INEC in a letter jointly signed by the party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Ajibola Basiru.

Meanwhile, the APC said it received more than 700 petitions from aggrieved members following the conclusion of its primary elections.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the volume of petitions necessitated a review of some of the primary election outcomes.

“The party received over 700 petitions from aggrieved members following the conclusion of our shadow elections,” Morka said.

He, however, noted that the party’s immediate priority was ensuring that all nominated candidates completed the required documentation for submission to INEC rather than releasing the final list to the public.

“Our absolute immediate priority right now is ensuring that our designated candidates properly complete and return their Form EC9 nomination documents for upload ahead of the strict INEC deadline, rather than focusing on the public release of the list,” he said.

Despite the adjustments made after the appeals process, many of the party’s prominent figures retained their tickets, including the four serving governors contesting for Senate seats in the 2027 general elections.

Credit: The Nation