The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised opposition political parties following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) decision to extend the deadline for the submission of candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
NRTC earlier reported that the ruling party confirmed that it had completed the upload of all its candidates’ details before the initial deadline expired.
The APC made its position known in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
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INEC had earlier announced a three-day extension of the nomination window, shifting the deadline from July 11 to July 14, 2026.
The electoral body said the decision followed an appeal by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which requested additional time for political parties experiencing challenges with the online submission process.
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Reacting to the development, Morka acknowledged that the commission acted within its statutory powers in granting the extension.
However, he argued that the request exposed the organisational shortcomings of some opposition parties, which, according to him, were unable to complete their nomination procedures within the original timeframe.
He noted that the APC concluded its submissions without disruption despite handling a larger volume of candidates across the country.
Morka further maintained that the extension undermined the opposition’s frequent claims that INEC gives preferential treatment to the APC.
He argued that the same parties accusing the commission of bias had no hesitation in seeking its intervention when they were unable to meet the prescribed deadline.
With the nomination process concluded, Morka urged APC members and supporters to concentrate on preparations for the 2027 election campaigns.
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He also encouraged the party’s grassroots network to highlight the achievements recorded under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as the party seeks to retain power in the next general election.
