The All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced that it has completed the electronic upload of all its candidates for the 2027 general elections ahead of the deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The ruling party disclosed the development as political parties continue preparations for the 2027 general elections and work to meet the electoral commission's requirements for the submission of candidate information. APC National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, announced that the party had successfully uploaded its candidates for all available elective positions on the INEC portal. He described the completion of the exercise as a reflection of the party's level of organisation and preparedness for the upcoming elections. ### APC says exercise was completed ahead of deadline According to the party leadership, the APC completed the electronic submission process before the deadline provided by INEC. The submission of candidate information is an important stage in the electoral process because political parties are required to provide the commission with the details of the individuals who will represent them in the various elective positions. The process covers candidates contesting positions across the different levels of government, including national and state legislative positions as well as governorship contests. By completing the upload ahead of the deadline, the APC says it has avoided the last-minute pressure associated with submitting candidate information and demonstrated its readiness for the next stage of the electoral process. ### Yilwatda highlights party organisation Yilwatda attributed the early completion of the exercise to what he described as the party's organisational strength and internal coordination. The APC chairman said the development demonstrated that the party had been able to coordinate its structures and candidates effectively ahead of the 2027 polls. The ruling party has continued to position itself as prepared for the elections, with its leadership emphasising the importance of completing the necessary administrative and electoral requirements on time. The completion of the upload also gives the party an opportunity to focus on other aspects of its preparations as the country moves closer to the 2027 general elections. ### INEC deadline and candidate submission The Independent National Electoral Commission has established timelines that political parties are expected to follow as part of the preparations for the 2027 elections. Candidate submission is a significant part of that process because INEC needs to receive and process information supplied by political parties before finalising the lists of candidates that will appear on the ballot. INEC has also extended the deadline for political parties to submit governorship and House of Assembly candidate lists following appeals from political parties for additional time to complete the process. The extension means parties have additional time for the affected submissions, but the APC says it had already completed its upload. ### Preparing for the 2027 elections The development comes as political activity continues to intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections. Political parties are working through the various stages required before the elections, including conducting primaries, resolving internal disputes, submitting candidate information and completing other administrative requirements. The APC's early completion of its candidate upload represents one of the latest milestones in the party's preparations. The party is expected to continue its campaign planning and organisational activities as the electoral timetable progresses. ### Significance for APC candidates For APC candidates, the completion of the electronic upload represents an important administrative step toward their participation in the 2027 elections. However, candidate submission is only one part of the broader electoral process. Candidates and political parties must continue to comply with relevant electoral requirements and timelines established by INEC. The commission will also carry out the necessary processes associated with the information submitted by political parties before the final candidate lists are established. ### Political competition ahead of 2027 The APC's announcement comes amid growing political competition ahead of the 2027 elections. The ruling party is seeking to maintain its position at the federal level, while opposition parties are also working to strengthen their structures and present candidates capable of challenging the APC. The candidate submission process is therefore being closely watched because it provides an indication of the extent to which political parties have completed their internal preparations. The process could also provide greater clarity about the candidates who will ultimately contest various positions under the parties' platforms. ### More work ahead Although the APC says it has completed the upload of its candidates, the party's preparation for the 2027 elections is far from over. The party will still have to coordinate its candidates, campaign structures and supporters across the country as the election approaches. Candidates will also need to comply with INEC's rules and other legal requirements governing the electoral process. For the electoral commission, the submission of candidate information is another stage in the larger process of preparing the country for the 2027 polls. ### APC projects readiness The ruling party has used the early completion of the upload to reinforce its message that it is organisationally prepared for the next general election. With all candidate information reportedly uploaded ahead of the relevant deadline, the party can now concentrate on the remaining stages of its election preparations. The development also comes at a time when political parties are facing increasingly compressed timelines as Nigeria moves toward the 2027 elections. For voters, the eventual publication of official candidate lists by INEC will provide greater clarity about the individuals seeking election under the various political parties. As preparations continue, the APC's latest announcement marks another milestone in the road to the 2027 general elections, while attention will now shift toward the next stages of the electoral timetable and the finalisation of candidate lists by INEC.