Three political parties have failed to submit the names of their presidential and vice-presidential candidates before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) closed its nomination portal for the 2027 general election.

A senior INEC official, who spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to comment publicly, disclosed that the affected parties are the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by Nyesom Wike, and the Labour Party (LP) faction led by Nenadi Usman.

According to the official, the commission shut its online nomination portal at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, bringing to an end the extended window granted to political parties for the submission of the names and credentials of their presidential, National Assembly, and other federal legislative candidates.

The source explained that while the vast majority of registered political parties successfully completed their submissions before the deadline, the three parties failed to upload both their presidential and vice-presidential candidates within the stipulated period.

INEC had earlier extended the deadline from July 11 to July 14 after appeals from political parties seeking additional time to conclude their nomination processes. However, the electoral commission maintained throughout the extension that no further postponement would be granted.

Among the political parties that met the deadline were the All Progressives Congress (APC), which submitted the ticket of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for re-election.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also successfully uploaded the names of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) submitted the ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

Sources within the commission further revealed that a number of political parties completed only partial submissions by uploading the names of their presidential candidates without naming their vice-presidential candidates before the portal closed.

Despite the conclusion of the nomination exercise, uncertainty reportedly remains in some states regarding the identities of candidates for the Senate and House of Representatives, as INEC begins the verification and processing of all submissions in accordance with the Electoral Act and the commission’s guidelines.

The commission is expected to scrutinise the credentials and nominations submitted by political parties before publishing the final list of candidates eligible to participate in the 2027 general election.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the judgment of the Federal High Court restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any state congresses conducted by committees appointed by the caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, David Mark.

In a split two-to-one decision delivered on Monday, the three-member panel affirmed the earlier ruling of the Federal High Court, which barred the Mark-led caretaker leadership from interfering with the tenure and functions of the party’s duly elected state executive committees.

Justice Okon Abang, who delivered the lead majority judgment, held that there was no basis to set aside the restraining order earlier granted by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on April 29, 2026. Justice Donatus Okorowo concurred with the judgment, while the Presiding Justice of the panel, Justice Abba Mohammed, dissented.

The appellate court ruled that the responsibility for conducting state congresses lies with the duly elected state executive committees of political parties and not with the national caretaker leadership.

Justice Abba Mohammed, in his minority judgment, held that the dispute was an internal affair of the political party and therefore not justiciable, arguing that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The dispute originated from a suit filed before the Federal High Court by aggrieved members of the ADC, including Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Olona Yinka, Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang and Obianyo Patrick, who instituted the action on behalf of themselves and all ADC state chairmen and state executive committees.

The plaintiffs challenged the decision of the David Mark-led caretaker leadership to appoint committees to conduct state congresses, contending that only constitutionally elected party organs possess such powers under the ADC Constitution.

The defendants in the suit included the ADC, David Mark, Patricia Akwashiki, Bolaji Abdullahi, Rauf Aregbesola, Oserheimen Osunbor, sued on behalf of the Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee, as well as INEC.

In its earlier judgment, the Federal High Court held that the tenure of the ADC’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remained valid and subsisting until properly constituted congresses and a national convention are conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that neither the 1999 Constitution nor the ADC Constitution empowered the caretaker leadership to appoint committees for the conduct of state congresses.

The court further held that Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution requires political parties to conduct periodic elections in accordance with democratic principles, while Article 23 of the ADC Constitution provides for the tenure of elected party officials.

Although courts generally avoid interfering in the internal affairs of political parties, Justice Abdulmalik held that judicial intervention becomes necessary where constitutional or statutory violations are alleged.

The trial court also dismissed preliminary objections challenging its jurisdiction, holding that the involvement of INEC brought the matter within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court under Section 251 of the Constitution. It further held that the plaintiffs had the legal standing to institute the suit and were not required to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.

Affirming the lower court’s decision, the Court of Appeal held that the congresses and national convention conducted by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership were null and void, having been conducted in violation of a subsisting court order issued on April 14, 2026.

Justice Abang, in the majority judgment, stated that once allegations before the court involve constitutional infractions, the dispute ceases to be a mere internal affair of a political party and becomes subject to judicial scrutiny.

The appellate court also relied on a recent Supreme Court decision arising from the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), holding that the ADC dispute involved constitutional questions requiring judicial intervention to safeguard democratic principles.

Consequently, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal filed by the ADC in suit number CA/ABJ/CV/608/2026, affirmed the restraining orders against the party’s caretaker leadership, and awarded ₦10 million in costs against the ADC.

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 general elections, describing the development as evidence of their lack of preparedness to govern.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party said it successfully complied with INEC’s July 11 deadline by uploading the names and particulars of all its presidential, vice-presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates on the commission’s Candidate Nomination Portal.

The APC noted that despite presenting a significantly larger number of candidates across the country, it completed the nomination process within the stipulated timeframe, unlike the opposition parties that requested additional time to conclude their internal processes.

According to the party, INEC exercised its statutory powers by extending the deadline to July 14, 2026, following requests from opposition parties that were unable to meet the original deadline.

While acknowledging INEC’s authority to grant the extension, the APC argued that the need for such an extension exposed what it described as the opposition’s organisational weaknesses and inability to effectively manage internal party affairs.

The ruling party maintained that political parties unable to conclude their nomination processes within the prescribed timeline could not convince Nigerians that they possess the competence, discipline and administrative capacity required to govern the country or its subnational governments.

The APC also accused opposition parties of hypocrisy, recalling what it described as their repeated allegations that the ruling party controls INEC’s decisions.

According to the statement, despite making such claims in the past, the same opposition parties sought relief from INEC after missing the submission deadline and were granted an extension.

The APC further observed that although it would have been the greatest beneficiary if INEC had maintained the original deadline, it neither opposed nor interfered with the commission’s decision, having already fulfilled all submission requirements.

The party said this development further discredited allegations that it dictates the actions of the electoral umpire.

Reaffirming its confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections, the APC said the successful completion of its candidate nomination process demonstrates the party’s leadership, organisational strength, discipline and commitment to due process.

The party also called on its leaders, stakeholders, members and supporters nationwide to shift focus to the next phase of preparations by strengthening party structures, intensifying grassroots mobilisation and highlighting the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to the APC, sustained mobilisation and an issue-based campaign will position the party to secure another electoral victory and a renewed mandate from Nigerians in the 2027 general elections.