Labour Party Denies Missing INEC Deadline, Says Presidential Ticket Uploaded Four Days Early

Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.

The Labour Party has firmly dismissed reports alleging that it failed to upload the names of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission portal before the close of the nomination deadline for the 2027 general elections, insisting that all required candidate details were successfully submitted four days before the portal closed. The party's National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, issued a statement on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, describing the reports as "false, misleading and unfounded," while maintaining that the names of the party's presidential and vice-presidential candidates were uploaded on July 10, 2026, four clear days before the July 14 deadline set by INEC for the 2027 general elections. The rebuttal comes amid growing political tensions as parties prepare for what is expected to be a fiercely contested presidential race in 2027.

According to the party, the submission process was completed seamlessly and in full compliance with the Commission's guidelines, with the particulars of all duly nominated National Assembly candidates also uploaded before the portal closed. Reports circulating in sections of the Nigerian media had suggested that the Labour Party missed the deadline for uploading the names of its top candidates, raising questions about the party's readiness for the election cycle. However, the party has vehemently rejected these claims, describing them as the product of misinformation and an attempt to undermine confidence in its growing electoral prospects. "Our attention has been drawn to media reports alleging that the party failed to upload the names of its presidential and vice-presidential candidates before the expiration of the INEC deadline. This claim is false and misleading," Asogwa said.

The Labour Party also criticised the media organisation that published the report, accusing it of neglecting basic journalistic standards by relying on information allegedly attributed to an anonymous INEC source without seeking clarification from party officials. "It is, however, disturbing that a media organisation would publish such a weighty and misleading report without making the slightest effort to verify the information with the leadership of the Labour Party, particularly when the story was purportedly sourced from an anonymous INEC official. This raises legitimate questions about the professional responsibility of the media organisation concerned and whether the publication was intended to serve some ulterior political objective rather than the public interest," Asogwa said. The party described the report as "idle beer parlour gossip masquerading as journalism" and insisted that the facts would ultimately expose what it called a failed propaganda campaign.

The controversy highlights the heightened scrutiny surrounding party nominations and candidate submissions as political organisations race to meet regulatory requirements ahead of the next general election. INEC has already released a timetable indicating when the final list of validly nominated candidates will be published, and the Labour Party expressed confidence that the official list would clearly show that it met every requirement for the nomination of its candidates. "In any event, INEC has already published its timetable for the release of the final list of validly nominated candidates for the 2027 General Elections. Once the Commission makes the publication, Nigerians will clearly see the names of all duly nominated candidates of the various political parties, including those of the Labour Party, thereby putting this baseless misinformation to rest," the party stated.

The Labour Party urged its members, supporters and the general public to disregard the reports, insisting that the party complied with the nomination requirements within the stipulated timeline. The party also alleged that the reports were part of efforts to undermine its growing political momentum ahead of the 2027 elections, arguing that opponents unsettled by its increasing acceptance among Nigerians have resorted to spreading misinformation instead of engaging in issue-based politics. "Those who have become unsettled by the renewed strength, growing acceptance and increasing momentum of the Labour Party should channel their energies into preparing for the electoral contest ahead rather than resorting to crude propaganda and discredited tactics," Asogwa said.

The dispute marks one of the earliest nomination-related controversies in the lead-up to the 2027 polls, a contest that is already beginning to reshape Nigeria's political landscape. Reports had suggested that three political parties, including the Labour Party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, and a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, failed to upload the names of their presidential candidates before the INEC portal closed at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. INEC had extended the deadline from July 11 to July 14 following appeals by political parties, maintaining that no further extension would be granted. However, the Labour Party has insisted that it met the deadline and that the controversy will soon be laid to rest when INEC publishes the final list of validly nominated candidates.

Political analysts note that nomination disputes and procedural controversies often emerge during election cycles, reflecting both the competitive nature of Nigerian politics and the high stakes attached to securing a place on the ballot. The Labour Party has urged its supporters to remain focused and not be distracted by what it termed "fake news," while expressing confidence that the publication of INEC's final candidate list would ultimately settle the matter and provide definitive confirmation of all validly nominated candidates for the 2027 elections. The party reaffirmed its commitment to the electoral process and urged Nigerians to await INEC's official publication of the final list of candidates rather than rely on anonymous claims circulating in the media.

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