Political parties have continued to trade claims and counterclaims over compliance with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) deadline for the submission of candidates for the 2027 general election, as legal disputes, requests for deadline extensions and denials of non-compliance dominated the final day of nominations.

While the Accord Party appealed to INEC for additional time to resolve its internal leadership crisis, both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) dismissed reports suggesting they failed to submit their presidential tickets before the deadline.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on its part, rejected allegations that it was using the courts and INEC to frustrate opposition parties.

The controversy unfolded as the Federal High Court introduced amended pre-election practice directions aimed at accelerating the hearing and determination of electoral disputes.

A senior Accord Party member, who spoke anonymously, said the party needed more time to conclude a legal battle involving its presidential aspirant, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim.

According to the source, disagreements within the party leadership over its presidential candidate prompted the court action.

Similarly, Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate, Adewole Adebayo, disclosed that technical glitches delayed the upload of the party’s candidates but said the extension earlier granted by INEC enabled the party to complete the process successfully.

The SDP National Secretary, Dr. Olu Agunloye, confirmed that the party met the deadline and praised INEC for granting what he described as a reasonable extension.

He also dismissed claims that the APC was manipulating state institutions against opposition parties, insisting that most challenges confronting opposition parties stem from internal disputes.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also maintained that it complied with the electoral timetable.

Its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, insisted the party remained committed to all legal and constitutional requirements despite ongoing legal battles over its leadership.

Reacting to reports of another extension, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, said the commission had not taken any decision on granting further time for candidate submissions.

The PDP also insisted it complied fully with the electoral timetable, revealing that the names and particulars of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates were uploaded to the INEC portal on July 10, well before the deadline.

In a similar vein, the Labour Party dismissed claims that it failed to submit its candidates, stating that its presidential, vice-presidential and National Assembly candidates were successfully uploaded days before the portal closed.

The party described contrary reports as false and politically motivated, expressing confidence that INEC’s final publication of candidates would vindicate its position.

The APC, through its National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, denied accusations of using the judiciary and INEC to destabilise rival parties.

He said the ruling party successfully uploaded all 471 of its candidates before the deadline and urged opposition parties to resolve their internal crises instead of blaming the APC.

Meanwhile, the Federal High Court reserved judgment in a suit filed by Accord Party presidential aspirant, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, seeking an order compelling the party to recognise him as its presidential candidate and submit his name to INEC.

The court said a date for judgment would be communicated to the parties.

In Abia State, ADC Chairman Don Norman Obinna welcomed the Court of Appeal judgment nullifying the party’s current national leadership and questioned reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar planned to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court.

He urged INEC to reopen the nomination portal for candidates produced through what he described as valid congresses and primaries.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), meanwhile, explained that it deliberately chose not to field a presidential candidate after endorsing President Bola Tinubu for a second term.

The party, however, confirmed it had successfully uploaded candidates for National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.

Separately, the Federal High Court announced amendments to its Pre-Election Practice Directions, 2026, to ensure faster resolution of election-related disputes ahead of the 2027 polls.

Also weighing in, Managing Partner of SBM Intelligence, Ikemesit Effiong, warned that low voter turnout could significantly benefit incumbent governments.

While noting that President Tinubu’s approval ratings remain relatively low, he argued that elections with reduced voter participation historically tend to favour ruling parties, even as many eligible voters have expressed their intention to participate in the 2027 general election.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has defended the construction of residential quarters for judicial officers by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), dismissing claims that the initiative could undermine the independence of the judiciary.

The President, represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), spoke during the inauguration of 20 housing units built for judges of the FCT High Court in Katampe District, Abuja.

Tinubu described the project as part of his administration’s commitment to strengthening the judiciary through improved welfare, infrastructure and enhanced working conditions.

Responding to criticisms that the housing scheme could amount to executive interference, the President argued that providing decent accommodation for judicial officers should not be viewed as an attempt to influence the judiciary.

He noted that similar concerns were not raised when staff quarters were constructed for lecturers at the Nigerian Law School, insisting that infrastructure projects aimed at improving welfare should not be misconstrued.

According to him, the housing initiative is separate from the judiciary’s statutory funding and does not affect its financial or institutional independence.

Tinubu stressed that providing secure and comfortable accommodation for judges would enable them to carry out their constitutional responsibilities without fear, pressure or distraction.

Meanwhile, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, disclosed that he would seek presidential approval to allow beneficiaries of the newly completed houses to own them under an owner-occupier arrangement.

He said the proposal had already received the backing of the Attorney-General and expressed optimism that the President would approve it.

Wike also announced plans to construct an additional 20 housing units for judges of the FCT High Court before the end of Tinubu’s first term, noting that the current project could not accommodate all judicial officers.

The minister further revealed that three new court complexes for judges and magistrates would be completed before the end of the year to strengthen the administration of justice in the Federal Capital Territory.

He also dismissed allegations circulating on social media that he illegally acquired land in Abuja, explaining that the land used for the judges’ estate was lawfully recovered from Julius Berger after remaining undeveloped for more than three decades.

Also speaking, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Husseini Baba-Yusuf, described the housing project as a major boost to judicial independence, maintaining that the welfare of judicial officers is essential to preserving the integrity, security and effectiveness of the judiciary.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has said the departure of Peter Obi from the party before the conclusion of its presidential selection process left the South-East politically disadvantaged and created uncertainty over the choice of a vice-presidential candidate.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Thursday, Okonkwo said Obi’s exit disrupted the political calculations within the party and complicated efforts to ensure the South-East was adequately represented on the presidential ticket.

According to him, the region lost its strongest contender when Obi left the party, making it difficult to replace him because the Electoral Act requires a vice-presidential nominee to have been a member of the party for at least 21 days before the primary election.

He noted that respected South-East figures such as Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and former Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala could not be considered because they were not members of the ADC at the required time.

Okonkwo explained that the circumstances ultimately influenced the emergence of former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the party’s vice-presidential candidate.

Addressing criticism of Amaechi’s nomination, he clarified that he never opposed the former governor personally, pointing out that Amaechi is of Igbo extraction.

He said his earlier concerns centred on the need for equitable geopolitical representation, arguing that the South-East has not produced either Nigeria’s president or vice president since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

Okonkwo added that after discussions with the party leadership, he accepted the reasons behind the decision and expressed confidence that internal disagreements had been resolved.

He maintained that the ADC leadership remains united ahead of the 2027 general election and expressed optimism that the party would emerge victorious at the polls under its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.