The All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised the opposition parties over the circumstances that led the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the submission deadline for candidates.
The Port City News (TCPN) reported that the party successfully submitted the details of all its candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
The party’s reaction came after INEC announced a three-day extension of the submission window, moving the closing date from July 11 to July 14, 2026.
The electoral commission approved the extension following a request by the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which sought additional time for political parties facing challenges with the online nomination process.
Commenting on the development, Morka said that although INEC was within its powers to grant the extension, the request reflected the inability of some opposition parties to effectively manage their nomination process.
He maintained that the APC completed its submissions without difficulty despite processing a far larger number of candidates nationwide.
The ruling party also argued that the extension contradicted repeated allegations by opposition parties that INEC favours the APC.
It stated that while critics often accuse the commission of bias, they did not hesitate to seek its intervention when they encountered difficulties meeting the original deadline.
Following the completion of its candidate submissions, the APC called on its members and supporters to shift attention to preparations for the electioneering campaign.
The party urged its grassroots structures to promote the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as it seeks another mandate in the 2027 general elections.
