APC Mocks Opposition Over Failure to Meet INEC Deadline

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised opposition political parties for failing to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) deadline for the submission of candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The ruling party said the development exposed what it described as the opposition’s lack of preparedness and organisational capacity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the APC said it successfully uploaded the names and particulars of all its presidential, vice-presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates before the July 11 deadline set by INEC.

The party noted that the electoral commission later extended the deadline to midnight on July 14 following an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on behalf of political parties that were unable to complete the nomination process within the stipulated period.

While acknowledging that INEC acted within its statutory powers in granting the extension, the APC argued that the request exposed weaknesses in the internal processes of the opposition parties.

“It is noteworthy that the extension was necessitated by the stark failure of opposition parties to manage their internal processes to comply with INEC’s submission deadline despite having fewer candidates to manage compared to the APC,” Morka said.

According to the ruling party, the inability of the opposition to conclude its nomination process on schedule raised questions about its ability to govern effectively.

“Political parties that cannot efficiently conclude their own internal nomination processes cannot possibly be trusted by Nigerians to possess the competence, discipline, or readiness to govern our great nation or its subnational governments,” the statement added.

The APC also accused opposition parties of hypocrisy, saying they had repeatedly alleged that the commission was under the influence of the ruling party but later turned to the same electoral body for relief after failing to meet the submission deadline.

“It is starkly ironical that the same opposition parties have repeatedly peddled false, malicious and unfounded tales that the APC controls and dictates INEC’s decisions. Yet, as they failed to meet the submission deadline, they shamelessly turned to the same INEC for respite, and were granted an extension,” Morka stated.

The party said it stood to benefit had the electoral commission refused to extend the deadline but chose not to interfere because it had already complied with the submission requirements.

The APC described the successful upload of its candidates’ particulars on the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal as evidence of its organisational discipline, leadership and commitment to due process.

The party urged its members and supporters to shift attention to preparations for the next phase of the electoral process by strengthening party structures across the country and intensifying grassroots mobilisation.

It also called on party faithful to continue promoting the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as part of efforts to secure another electoral victory in the 2027 general elections.