INEC Deadline: Who Filed, Who Missed, Who Is Still Disputing

ABUJA — The INEC May 30 primary deadline is closing the most chaotic primary season in Nigerian political history. By end of business Saturday, the commission will have received candidate submissions from all parties that intend to field candidates in the 2027 general elections. Here is what we know about who filed, who disputed, and who may have missed the window entirely.

The APC submitted a full candidate list for all major offices. President Tinubu’s presidential candidacy, formalised at the May 24 certificate ceremony, heads the submission. Governorship and legislative candidates were produced in all states where primaries were held, though disputed results in Delta, Plateau, Edo, and Lagos may trigger post-deadline court challenges.

The ADC submitted Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate despite Amaechi’s and Hayatu-Deen’s rejection of the primary. The party is betting that INEC will accept the submission pending any court order that might interfere. Amaechi’s legal team said it is preparing a court application but had not obtained any order before filing time on Saturday morning.

Labour Party completed its nationwide primaries on Thursday, May 30, and filed all candidates before the deadline. The party’s presidential candidate from the May 30 primary has not yet been widely reported. The LP faces scrutiny over whether it produced a candidate that can compete nationally without Peter Obi on its ticket.

Smaller Parties Racing

The Accord Party held its presidential primary on Saturday morning. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim participated despite his explosive allegations about internal sabotage. The result was being processed for filing as of early Saturday afternoon. The party said it would meet the deadline.

The NDC, which conducted its primaries on Democracy Day despite Eid holiday challenges, said it filed all candidates before the deadline. The party separately alleged that APC-sponsored infiltrators participated in its primary to disrupt results. It said INEC should scrutinise its filings carefully.

The SDP filed Adewole Adebayo as its presidential candidate without controversy. Adebayo has maintained consistent messaging throughout the primary season. His platform has attracted limited media attention compared to the ADC and APC drama, but his campaign team said they are building quietly at the grassroots level.

What Happens After Today

With submissions complete, INEC begins a verification process that could take several weeks. The commission will scrutinise each party’s primary documentation, cross-reference membership registers, and verify that candidates meet constitutional eligibility requirements including age, education, and party membership.

Candidates found to have violated INEC rules or their party’s own procedures during the primary may be disqualified even after filing. Several court injunctions obtained by aggrieved aspirants could also force INEC to review specific candidacies.

Campaign season for presidential and National Assembly candidates begins August 19. Between now and then, legal battles over primary results will dominate political news. The election landscape that emerges from those battles will determine the competitive shape of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.