APC Nears Deadline to Submit Tinubu’s 2027 Running Mate to INEC

The APC running mate saga is finally nearing an answer, as the party says it is on the verge of uploading President Bola Tinubu’s candidate details, alongside those of his running mate, to the INEC portal. A senior member of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that the process is well underway and should wrap up ahead of the July 11, 2027 deadline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to the source, the party’s National Assembly candidates are already being processed smoothly. “We hope that on or before next Wednesday, we shall upload the details of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate,” the official said. They also expressed confidence that the party would meet the deadline for uploading every one of its candidates onto the portal.

Behind-the-Scenes Progress on the APC Running Mate Submission

Journalists who visited the party’s ICT department at the Muhammadu Buhari House headquarters in Abuja on Sunday found that technical staff maintained steady access to the INEC portal throughout the weekend. Consequently, most principal officers of the 10th National Assembly, plus several sitting lawmakers, already appear in the system.

Beyond that, four state governors have already made it onto the portal. These include AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, and Dapo Abiodun of Ogun. All four are transitioning into Senate contests for the 2027 elections, and their records are among the first fully processed.

Over 700 Petitions Trigger Changes Before the APC Running Mate Announcement

Before any of this uploading could begin, though, the party had to sort through a mountain of internal disputes. The NWC dropped six senatorial candidates and 19 House of Representatives candidates who had won their tickets during May’s primaries. This decision followed recommendations from the Primary Election Appeal Committee, and it affected constituencies across Abia, Kogi, Taraba, Benue, Ebonyi, Ondo, Kaduna, Niger, and Kwara states.

Afterward, the party forwarded a revised candidate list to INEC. National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda and National Secretary Ajibola Basiru jointly signed the letter confirming the changes.

Meanwhile, APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka confirmed just how contentious the primaries had become. “The party received over 700 petitions from aggrieved members following the conclusion of our shadow elections,” he said. That’s a striking figure, and it explains why the review process took as long as it did.

Still, Morka wouldn’t commit to a date for releasing the final candidate list publicly. Instead, he stressed that meeting INEC’s paperwork requirements comes first. “Our absolute immediate priority right now is ensuring that our designated candidates properly complete and return their Form EC9 nomination documents for upload ahead of the strict INEC deadline, rather than focusing on the public release of the list,” he explained.

Interestingly, despite all the petitions and adjustments, several high-profile figures kept their tickets intact. The four governors moving into Senate races are a clear example of that continuity, even as other candidates lost their spots.

Governor Fintiri Adds His Voice Ahead of 2027

In related news, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa recently threw his support behind Tinubu’s 2027 bid. He argued that Tinubu remains the candidate best placed to keep Nigeria stable while continuing the country’s ongoing economic reforms.

Fintiri made these comments while meeting grassroots APC executives and stakeholders in the Madagali and Michika local government areas of Adamawa state. He spoke alongside several senior party figures during the engagement, further signaling unified support within the party ranks as the clock ticks down toward the July 11 deadline.

As things stand, all eyes remain on Abuja this week. Once Tinubu and his running mate’s details officially hit the INEC portal, Nigerians will finally get clarity on one of the most closely watched questions heading into the 2027 general elections.