The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has quietly extended the deadline for political parties to submit the lists and personal particulars of candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections — a move party operatives say was driven by a crisis within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
INEC announced on Sunday that the original July 11 deadline has been pushed back to midnight on Tuesday, July 14. The change was contained in a press release signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
The commission said the extension followed an appeal from the Inter‑Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on behalf of “political parties who were unable to upload the names and personal particulars of their candidates within the scheduled timeline.” INEC stressed the decision was taken to preserve an “inclusive” process while staying “within the ambit of the law,” and urged parties to take advantage of the extra time.
But senior party sources and political operatives contacted for this story say the extension was prompted above all by dysfunction within the APC, where last‑minute disputes over zoning, running‑mate choices and primary outcomes left the party scrambling to submit materials electronically before the original cut‑off. Several party officials described chaotic last‑minute consultations and technical failures compounded by disagreement among factions over candidate lists.
“Multiple state chapters were still resolving parallel claimants to nominations when the deadline closed,” one party official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We simply could not get clean, authorised lists uploaded in time.”
IPAC confirmed it had sought the deadline extension on behalf of parties citing difficulties with the online submission portal, but would not comment on which parties were most affected.
INEC’s statement did not name any party, and the commission declined further comment beyond the press release. As of publication, the APC had not responded to requests for comment on whether its internal problems prompted the extension.
The extension gives parties 72 additional hours to complete uploads, a window that may settle immediate administrative headaches but is unlikely to resolve deeper internal disputes that could reshape candidate slates before INEC’s final vetting. Observers warn that hurried adjustments carried out under pressure can trigger legal challenges and fuel post‑primary litigation — matters that could complicate preparations for the 2027 elections.
INEC’s move underscores the mounting logistical and political pressures ahead of next year’s polls. For now, however, the commission appears to have chosen short postponement over strict enforcement of the original timetable — a decision that will be scrutinised by parties and opponents alike in the weeks to come.
