By Rukevwe Odeh

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained the delay in the public release of its list of candidates, saying its immediate priority is ensuring full compliance with the nomination requirements of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Party officials disclosed that efforts are currently focused on completing all statutory documentation and meeting the commission’s guidelines ahead of the deadline for the submission of candidates for the forthcoming elections.

According to the party, aspirants who emerged from its primary elections are undergoing the necessary documentation process, including the completion and upload of nomination forms through INEC’s designated portal, to ensure that every candidate satisfies the legal conditions for nomination.

The APC maintained that adherence to INEC’s timetable and procedures takes precedence over the early publication of candidates’ names, stressing that a flawless submission process is critical to the party’s participation in the elections.

The development comes as political parties across the country continue to align their internal processes with INEC’s electoral calendar, which prescribes strict deadlines for the submission of candidates’ particulars.

Although the delay has generated discussion among party faithful and political observers, many of whom expected the candidates’ list to be released shortly after the conclusion of the party’s primaries, APC leaders insisted that accuracy and compliance remain their overriding concern.

The party expressed confidence that once all nomination documents have been successfully processed and submitted to INEC, it will proceed with the public unveiling of its candidates and intensify preparations for the election campaign.

By Divine Perezide

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that more than 1.5 million Nigerians have registered as new voters within the first seven weeks of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

According to the commission, a total of 1,565,873 new voter registrations were successfully completed as of June 26, 2026. Of this number, 620,933 registrants finalized their applications through the online pre-registration platform, while 944,940 completed the process through physical registration centres across the country.

INEC’s data shows that Kano State recorded the highest number of new registrations with 118,207 applicants. Lagos State followed with 78,360, while Delta State ranked third with 76,395 registrations.

The commission also revealed that women accounted for the majority of new registrants, with 821,276 registrations, representing 52.45 percent of the total, while 744,597 men completed the exercise.

Young Nigerians continued to dominate the registration process, as those between the ages of 18 and 34 made up 1,082,985 registrants, representing 69.16 percent of the overall figure. Students emerged as the largest occupational group among those who registered, followed by business owners and farmers or fishermen.

In addition, 18,919 persons with disabilities (PWDs) were captured during the exercise, reflecting efforts to ensure broader participation in the electoral process.

INEC stressed that the registration figures remain provisional and will undergo verification, including public display, claims and objections, and biometric checks to identify and remove duplicate or invalid registrations before the voter register is finalized.

The commission also disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise has been temporarily suspended in Ekiti and Osun states in line with preparations for their upcoming governorship elections.

By Rukevwe Odeh

The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has said the party is intensifying its preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections following recent consultations with the party’s National Leader, Seriake Dickson.

Kwankwaso made the remarks after a strategic meeting with Dickson, where both leaders reviewed the party’s progress and discussed ways to strengthen unity within the growing opposition platform.

He explained that the engagement formed part of ongoing efforts within the NDC to consolidate internal cohesion, resolve outstanding concerns, and position the party for a stronger showing in the next election cycle.

According to him, the discussions also focused on reinforcing the party’s structure and ensuring better coordination among stakeholders as preparations for 2027 gather momentum.

The meeting is one of several high-level consultations being held by the party leadership as it works to stabilise its ranks and build wider support ahead of the polls.