Trending 
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has completed the electronic upload of its candidates for all elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, beating the original deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, disclosed this on Sunday, saying the early completion showed the party’s level of organisation and preparedness for the elections.
INEC had initially set Saturday as the deadline for parties to submit their candidates through its online portal.
The commission later extended the deadline by three days to Tuesday, August 11, following appeals from parties that had yet to complete the process.
Yilwatda said the APC completed its submissions before the original deadline, covering candidates from the State Houses of Assembly to the presidential election.
“The APC has once again demonstrated that we are prepared for the responsibility of governing Nigeria. We did not wait until the last minute,” Yilwatda said.
“We planned ahead, coordinated our structures and ensured that our candidates were successfully uploaded before the expiration of the original deadline. This is what organisation, discipline and responsible political leadership mean,” he added.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Information Strategy, Abimbola Tooki, Yilwatda said the exercise involved the nomination, documentation, verification and electronic submission of thousands of candidates from the 36 states and Abuja.
He described the completion as significant given the size of the APC’s nationwide structure and the coordination required between its national secretariat, state chapters, candidates and election teams.
Yilwatda also urged Nigerians to look beyond campaign promises when assessing political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
He said internal organisation, compliance with electoral rules and the ability to manage people and resources should also be considered when voters make their choices.
“Governance is not an experiment. The management of a country as complex as Nigeria requires planning, coordination, discipline, competence and the ability to deliver within deadlines,” he said.
The APC chairman said completing the process early would allow the party to focus on other areas of its preparations, including campaign coordination, grassroots mobilisation, policy communication, candidate engagement and reconciliation within its structures.
“The work has only begun. Completing the upload ahead of schedule gives us confidence, but it also places a greater responsibility on us. We must remain united, disciplined and focused,” Yilwatda said.
He added that the APC would take its “Renewed Hope” message to communities across the country as it prepares to defend its position in the 2027 elections.
The 2027 elections are expected to be closely contested, with opposition parties seeking to challenge the APC’s control of the presidency and make gains at national and state levels.
While other parties now have until Tuesday, August 11, to complete their submissions, Yilwatda said the APC had moved on to the next phase of its preparations.
He commended the party’s National Working Committee, state leadership, candidates and election teams for their role in completing the process.
