APC BEATS INEC DEADLINE, UPLOADS 2027 CANDIDATES AS YILWATDA HAILS ‘ORGANISATIONAL STRENGTH’
By Pan Afric Reporters
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has completed the electronic upload of its candidates for all available elective positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, with National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, describing the feat as evidence of the ruling party’s organisational discipline and preparedness for the electoral contest.
The development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) extended the deadline for political parties to complete the upload of their candidates from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026, following appeals from parties that were yet to conclude their submissions.
The information was contained in a statement signed by Abimbola Tooki, Special Adviser to the APC National Chairman on Media and Information Strategy, on behalf of the Office of the National Chairman.
Speaking after the successful completion of the exercise, Yilwatda said the party had uploaded candidates ranging from the State Houses of Assembly to the presidential level across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the achievement demonstrated the APC’s ability to plan, coordinate and execute complex nationwide political operations within prescribed timelines.
“The APC has once again demonstrated that we are prepared for the responsibility of governing Nigeria. We did not wait until the last minute. We planned ahead, coordinated our structures and ensured that our candidates were successfully uploaded before the expiration of the original deadline.”
Yilwatda: Governance requires organisational capacity
The APC chairman said the successful completion of the exercise should not be viewed merely as an administrative accomplishment, arguing that the capacity to coordinate the nomination, documentation, verification and electronic submission of thousands of candidates was an important test of a political party’s organisational strength.
According to him, the exercise required close coordination between the party’s national secretariat, state chapters, candidates and other structures across the country.
Yilwatda said the APC’s ability to complete the process ahead of the original deadline reflected the efficiency of the systems being developed under the current leadership of the party.
He also argued that political parties seeking the mandate of Nigerians should be judged not only by campaign promises but by their ability to demonstrate internal organisation, preparedness and compliance with electoral regulations.
“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 cautioned Nigerians against parties that make ambitious promises about governing the country without demonstrating basic organisational competence within their own structures.
APC shifts focus to campaign, mobilisation
Yilwatda said having its candidates uploaded ahead of the original deadline would give the APC additional time to concentrate on subsequent stages of its preparations for the 2027 elections.
He listed the next priorities as campaign coordination, candidate engagement, voter mobilisation, grassroots organisation, policy communication and reconciliation across the party’s various structures.
The National Chairman described the 2027 elections as one of the most consequential electoral contests in Nigeria’s history, stressing that political parties would need to demonstrate not only popularity but also internal coordination and preparedness.
He commended members of the APC National Working Committee, state party leadership, candidates, election management teams and other officials who contributed to the successful completion of the upload exercise.
‘Work has only begun’
While celebrating the early completion of the process, Yilwatda cautioned party members against complacency, saying the development had placed an even greater responsibility on the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
“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.”
He said the APC would take its Renewed Hope message to communities across the country and seek to convince voters that the party was prepared not only to contest the 2027 elections but also to continue providing what he described as responsible leadership.
Yilwatda maintained that the party’s candidate-upload achievement was an early indication of its preparedness for the forthcoming electoral contest, adding that the APC would continue strengthening its structures and systems ahead of the polls.
He said the 2027 elections should provide Nigerians with an opportunity to make an informed choice based on competence, continuity, stability and national development.
