INEC Deadline Race: PDP, APC Set To Upload Sani, Hamzat, Chinda, Others

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have commenced the uploading of their governorship and state House of Assembly candidates’ details to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination portal ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Ireporter Online, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, confirmed that the opposition party began the process on Saturday, while a senior APC official also disclosed that the ruling party had started submitting the details of candidates cleared by its primary election appeal committee and National Working Committee (NWC).

Bature stated that the PDP’s upload process had progressed smoothly without technical challenges, expressing confidence that the party would complete the exercise before the deadline set by INEC.

“The Peoples Democratic Party commenced the upload of its governorship and state Houses of Assembly candidates’ details to INEC’s nomination portal on Saturday. The exercise has been progressing smoothly without any technical issues,” he said.

INEC scheduled the submission of nomination forms for governorship and state Assembly candidates from July 18 to August 8, 2026, while political parties had earlier submitted details of their presidential and National Assembly candidates between June 27 and July 11.

The exercise involves the submission of relevant nomination documents, including Forms EC9 and EC9A to EC9E, in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

A senior APC official revealed that the party had commenced its upload process, prioritising incumbent governors seeking re-election.

The official explained that only candidates whose nominations were cleared following reviews by the party’s primary election appeal committee and approved by the NWC would have their details forwarded to INEC.

The source added that some adjustments might be made to the initial list of candidates following petitions reviewed by the appeal committee before final approval by the party leadership.

Among the APC governors expected to feature on the list are Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Abba Yusuf of Kano, Dikko Radda of Katsina and Nasir Idris of Kebbi.

Others include Umaru Bago of Niger, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto, Agbu Kefas of Taraba and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara.

The party’s list is also expected to include new governorship contenders such as Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, Senator Solomon Adeola of Ogun State, Kingsley Chinda of Rivers State and Eric Opah of Abia State.

Other names reportedly expected on the APC list include Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi, Mustapha Gubio of Borno, Jamilu Gwamna of Gombe, Ahmed Wadada of Nasarawa and Baba Malam Wali of Yobe.

The APC official further disclosed that the party had established a committee headed by Jibrin Bancir, Principal Private Secretary to the party’s national chairman, to oversee the collection, verification and transmission of required documents for upload.

The committee, according to the source, would ensure that all submitted documents meet INEC requirements and that the process is completed efficiently before the deadline.

INEC’s timetable indicates that details of presidential and National Assembly candidates will be published on August 8, while particulars of governorship and state Assembly candidates will be displayed on August 29.

Political parties have until August 22 to withdraw or replace presidential and National Assembly candidates, while the deadline for changes involving governorship and state Assembly candidates is September 19.

The PDP, APC and other political parties are expected to submit a combined total of 28 governorship candidates and 993 state Assembly candidates nationwide for the 2027 elections.

However, governorship elections will not take place in Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun states during the general election cycle due to their separate electoral timelines.