2027: APC uploads 13 gov candidates, moves to heal rifts

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has submitted the nomination details of 13 governorship candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the August 8 deadline.

A senior APC official disclosed that the documents of five additional candidates were being processed by the party’s ICT department.

The official expressed confidence that the party would submit the details of all its 28 governorship candidates and their running mates before the deadline.

The party has, however, been unable to begin uploading the details of its state House of Assembly candidates because of technical difficulties with INEC’s nomination portal.

“Our ICT team has already scanned and prepared the documents for immediate upload once the issues are resolved,” the official said.

Among the candidates whose details have reportedly been processed are Obafemi Hamzat of Lagos, Solomon Adeola of Ogun, Umar Bago of Niger, Ahmed Wadada of Nasarawa and Yakubu Danladi of Kwara.

Others are Hyacinth Alia of Benue, Ahmed Galadima of Adamawa and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau.

APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the party had begun moves to reconcile members aggrieved by the emergence of some candidates.

Ibrahim expressed confidence that the reconciliation committee would resolve the disagreements and unite the affected members ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“As for the disaffection that the emergence of some of these candidates may have caused, the reconciliation committee is working,” he said.

“We are hoping that, at the end of the day, all grievances will be resolved. All the aggrieved parties will come together and forge ahead.”

He also urged the candidates to remain loyal to the APC’s policies and campaign on President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

INEC opened its portal for the submission of governorship and state House of Assembly nominations on July 18. The exercise will close at 6 p.m. on August 8.

The commission will publish the candidates’ personal details on August 29, while the deadline for withdrawal or substitution is September 19.