Political parties are racing to resolve post-primary disputes, finalise candidate lists and conclude consultations on running mates ahead of the opening of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) nomination portal for the 2027 general elections.
Naija News reports that INEC fixed June 26 for the release of access codes to political parties and July 11 as the deadline for submitting candidates’ particulars.
The electoral body said the access codes would enable authorised party officials to upload the names and personal details of candidates nominated for the elections.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Young Progressives Party (YPP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have expressed readiness to submit the names of their candidates to INEC following the conclusion of their primary elections.
However, appeals, grievances, and leadership tussles still persist after the conclusion of party primaries in some parties.
INEC warned that unresolved internal conflicts and court cases challenging parts of its electoral timetable could complicate preparations for the polls.
INEC To Issue Access Codes
The INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the development in Abuja on Tuesday during the Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of registered political parties.
He said the process followed the completion of party primaries on May 30, 2026.
According to the commission’s schedule, political parties will gain access to the dedicated nomination portal from June 27, while submission of candidates’ details will close on July 11, 2026.
The portal is a critical part of the nomination process, as only candidates whose particulars are submitted within the stipulated period will be eligible to contest under their parties.
‘Portal Will Close Automatically’
Amupitan said access codes would be issued to authorised national officers of each political party.
He said the officials would be responsible for uploading nominees’ biodata and other required information into the system.
According to Amupitan, “On Friday, 26th June, 2026, the commission will issue official access codes to all political parties for the purpose of accessing the Candidate Nomination Portal.
“These access codes will enable designated national officers of political parties to upload the names, personal particulars and other required information relating to nominated candidates.
“I urge political parties to ensure that their ICT personnel and relevant officers are adequately prepared and that all submissions are completed well before the stipulated deadlines. The portal is fully automated and will close automatically at the expiration of the prescribed period.”
The INEC chairman expressed concern over unresolved court cases relating to internal party leadership. He described the cases as unnecessary distractions that could affect electoral preparations.
Amupitan urged political actors to resolve their disputes quickly to keep the electoral timetable on track.
He also reaffirmed the commission’s independence, assuring stakeholders that INEC would continue to discharge its duties impartially and in line with the Constitution.
The INEC boss encouraged political parties to intensify voter education and mobilise citizens to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration exercise to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards.
He said the success of the 2027 elections would depend not only on INEC’s preparedness but also on the conduct of political parties.
“The success of the 2027 general election will depend not only on the preparedness of the commission but also on the commitment of political parties to uphold democratic principles, respect the rule of law, conduct transparent primaries, discourage violence, hate speech, and vote buying, and promote issue-based campaigns,” he said.
Amupitan added that the commission would ensure equal treatment for all parties while strictly following the Constitution, the Electoral Act and relevant guidelines.
INEC Appeals Court Rulings
Despite pending legal challenges, Amupitan said preparations for the 2027 general elections would continue as scheduled in accordance with lawful court directives.
He disclosed that INEC had filed appeals against two recent Federal High Court judgments that questioned parts of its timetable for the elections.
According to him, the commission reviewed the judgments and decided to approach appellate courts for a clearer interpretation of its constitutional and statutory powers in organising election activities.
The first ruling, delivered on May 20, 2026, in a case filed by the Youth Party against INEC, challenged some timelines in the election schedule.
The second judgment, delivered on May 26, 2026, in a suit filed by the Social Democratic Party, affirmed INEC’s power to issue an electoral timetable but struck out some timelines relating to candidate nomination and substitution procedures.
INEC maintained that the disputed timetable was built on interconnected processes that could not be separated without affecting election planning.
Quoting part of the court’s observation in the SDP case, Amupitan said, “an election timetable, without a date for submission of parties’ membership register, timeframe for primaries, etc., is inchoate. Without this timetable, there would be chaos in our electoral system.”
He said the commission respected the judiciary but noted that the judgments raised important legal questions.
“While the commission remains fully respectful of the decisions of the courts and of the judicial process generally, these judgments raise important legal questions concerning the extent of the commission’s constitutional and statutory powers in coordinating and regulating electoral activities,” he said.
Election Activities Interdependent
Amupitan said an electoral timetable was not merely a list of dates but a coordinated framework guiding administrative and logistical processes needed for credible elections.
He said while the Electoral Act provides timelines for some activities, several critical election preparations are not expressly covered by statute but must still be accommodated within the schedule.
He listed such activities as the submission and verification of political parties’ membership registers, the monitoring of primaries nationwide, the pre-uploading of primary results, the nomination processes, the printing of ballot papers and result sheets, and the quality control and deployment of election materials.
Others include training of personnel, voter education, procurement of sensitive materials and configuration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System.
“The commission therefore considers it imperative that all electoral activities be harmonised within a coherent and workable framework that promotes certainty, transparency, administrative efficiency and equal treatment of all political parties,” he said.
He assured political parties and Nigerians that the legal challenges would not distract the commission from preparing for the 2027 elections.
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