The All Progressives Congress has said the failure of opposition political parties to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission deadline for the submission of candidates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections reflects what it described as their lack of preparedness for the polls.

In a statement issued via its X handle on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, the ruling party said it successfully met the electoral commission’s July 11 deadline for uploading the names of its candidates despite having a larger number of contestants across elective positions.

“The All Progressives Congress is pleased to announce that it successfully met the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) deadline for the submission of names of its candidates for the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

“Our great Party satisfied this requirement despite the large number of Party candidates contesting on the Party’s platform for the various elective offices,” the statement read.

The APC noted that INEC subsequently extended the deadline to July 14 after opposition parties requested more time to complete the submission of their candidates.

According to the ruling party, while the electoral commission acted within its statutory powers in granting the extension, the development highlighted the opposition’s inability to effectively manage its internal processes.

“While INEC acted within its statutory powers and administrative discretion in extending the deadline for opposition parties to upload names of their candidates, it is noteworthy that the extension was necessitated by the stark failure of opposition parties to manage their internal processes to comply with INEC’s submission deadline despite having fewer candidates to manage compared to the APC,” it said.

The APC argued that the situation raised concerns about the operational capacity of opposition parties.

“This development provides yet another clear indication of the opposition’s chronic inherent weakness and raises legitimate questions about their operational capacity. Political parties that cannot efficiently conclude their own internal nomination processes cannot possibly be trusted by Nigerians to possess the competence, discipline, or readiness to govern our great nation or its subnational governments,” the statement stated.

It also accused opposition parties of contradicting their previous allegations against INEC.

“It is starkly ironical that the same opposition parties have repeatedly peddled false, malicious and unfounded tales that the APC controls and dictates INEC’s decisions. Yet, as they failed to meet the submission deadline, they shamelessly turned to the same INEC for respite, and were granted an extension.

“And the same APC that would have been the obvious beneficiary if INEC had stood firm on its original deadline, kept its distance, having met the deadline and completed its submission. Again, this underscores the oppositions’ hypocrisy, and true character as peddlers of fake news and merchants of blackmail,” the party said.

The APC said the successful upload of the particulars of the party’s presidential, vice-presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates demonstrated the APC’s organisational strength and commitment to due process.

“With the successful upload of particulars of all its Presidential, Vice Presidential, Senate, and House of Representatives candidates on the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal, APC has, again, demonstrated its leadership and superior organisational capacity, discipline, and solid commitment to due process,” the party said.

The APC urged party members and supporters to intensify mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“As we conclude this important phase of the electoral process, we call on all Party leaders, stakeholders, members, and supporters to turn their full attention to the task ahead.

“We must remain focused and continue to strengthen our structures at all levels, increase awareness of the massive achievements under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, deepen grassroots mobilisation, and prepare for a vigorous, issue-based campaign that will earn our great Party a renewed mandate in the 2027 general elections,” it added.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on his 92nd birthday, describing him as a global icon and Nigeria’s literary star.

This was contained in a statement personally signed by the President on Sunday in Abuja.

Tinubu described Soyinka as an exceptional personality whose courage, intellect and lifelong advocacy for justice had illuminated humanity’s path.

“Exceptional individuals like Professor Soyinka do not come often in a generation, men who illuminate the paths for humanity to follow across diverse endeavours.

“They are not afraid to go against convention and do not let the man die in the face of oppression and injustice,” he said.

The president congratulated the playwright, novelist, poet, essayist, actor and irrepressible advocate of good governance on the milestone.

Tinubu recalled Soyinka’s historic emergence as the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.

He also highlighted Soyinka’s numerous international honours, including the Benson Medal, Academy of Achievement Golden Plate Award and the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Lifetime Achievement.

The president particularly recalled Soyinka’s decades-long struggle against military dictatorship and his role in the June 12 democratic struggle.

“I recall Professor Soyinka’s valiant struggle against military dictatorship for decades and his efforts in the June 12 struggle, for which we were both in the trenches.

“Today, I salute one of our nation’s living repositories of history, knowledge and courage. That he is with us is a gift we will always treasure,” Tinubu said.

He thanked Soyinka for his enduring faith in the Nigerian project and his wise counsel on national issues.

Tinubu said the literary icon’s works and activism had profoundly influenced generations of writers, scholars and activists globally.

“As he marks this birthday, I join the world in celebrating his profound influence on generations of writers, scholars and activists, as well as his sacrifices for our nation.

“I wish ‘Kongi’ many more years in excellent health,” the president said.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Christian leaders have welcomed the rescue of the abducted pupils, teachers and school officials from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State but insisted that the government must go beyond securing their freedom by ensuring their rehabilitation, strengthening security and ending the wave of kidnappings across the country.

The renewed call came as the Catholic Bishops of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and other clerics urged authorities to provide medical care, trauma counselling and lasting protection for schools while intensifying efforts to free Nigerians still held by kidnappers and terrorists.

The rescued victims, numbering 46 according to CAN, regained their freedom on Friday after spending 56 days in captivity following the May 15 attack on Ahoro-Esiele community in Oriire Local Government Area, where heavily armed gunmen abducted pupils, teachers and the school principal.

In a statement issued in Ibadan, President of the Catholic Bishops of the Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, Most Rev. Gabriel Abegunrin, described the release as a moment of thanksgiving but stressed that the victims’ return marked only the beginning of the healing process.

The bishops said the rescued children and teachers, having endured severe psychological trauma and harsh conditions, require comprehensive medical attention, counselling and deliberate reintegration support to enable them resume normal life.

While congratulating the Federal Government, Oyo State Government and security agencies for the successful rescue, the bishops maintained that the government must fulfil its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property by preventing a recurrence of such attacks.

They also appealed to journalists to respect the privacy of the rescued victims and avoid repeated interviews that could worsen their emotional trauma, while urging communities to remain vigilant and collaborate with local vigilante groups to keep criminals away.

Similarly, CAN expressed gratitude to God for preserving the lives of the victims and commended President Bola Tinubu, Governor Seyi Makinde, security agencies, intelligence operatives, Amotekun Corps, local hunters and vigilantes for their coordinated efforts that secured the release.

CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, however, cautioned against limiting the celebration to the Oriire rescue, noting that many Nigerian families in states such as Borno and Niger were still awaiting the return of loved ones held by terrorists and bandits.

According to him, the successful rescue should renew national commitment towards securing the freedom of every Nigerian still in captivity, irrespective of region, ethnicity or religion.

He also urged governments, faith-based organisations and humanitarian agencies to work together in providing psychological support, medical care and rehabilitation for the rescued victims, stressing that schools must once again become places of learning rather than fear.

Meanwhile, Christian clerics from different denominations have identified national unity and sustained prayers as critical to overcoming Nigeria’s worsening insecurity and socio-economic challenges.

Speaking during the 2nd Annual Harvest Thanksgiving Service of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide, Rehoboth Chapel of Glory International, Dakibiyu District, Abuja, the church’s Leader-in-Charge, Pastor Femi Akinfenwa, said harvest celebrations should serve as opportunities to unite Nigerians and inspire national development.

Chairman of the Youth Wing of CAN in Kano State, Rev. Dr. Samuel Asake, said Nigeria was at a critical crossroads and required divine intervention to overcome insecurity, division and instability.

Guest minister, Pastor Nathaniel Ayankanmi, described the rescue of the Oriire pupils as evidence that prayers remained effective, arguing that Nigeria’s challenges would have been worse without sustained spiritual intercession.

Also speaking, Pastor Alex Ogundipe of Peculiar Church, Kubwa, urged Nigerians to complement prayers with obedience to godly principles, compassion and generosity, saying national transformation requires both faith and responsible action.

The clerics offered prayers for peace, economic recovery and wisdom for the nation’s leaders, while calling on governments at all levels to adopt lasting measures that will end kidnappings and restore public confidence in the country’s security architecture.