The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will issue official access codes to political parties on June 26, 2026, granting them access to the Candidate Nomination Portal ahead of the 2027 general election.
The Commission said the initiative is aimed at improving the candidate nomination process and reducing delays in the submission of candidates’ details for elective positions.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this during the Commission’s Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of the 22 registered political parties in Abuja.
According to him, designated national officers of political parties will use the access credentials to upload candidates’ names, personal particulars, and other required documents through the portal.
Amupitan urged political parties to prepare their ICT teams and ensure all submissions are completed within the approved timeline, warning that the portal is fully automated and will automatically close once the submission deadline expires.
“The Commission remains committed to ensuring a transparent nomination process and providing a level playing field for all political parties. We urge parties to take advantage of the nomination portal and comply with the timelines provided,” he said.
The INEC chairman also called on political parties to intensify voter mobilisation efforts by encouraging eligible Nigerians to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise and collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
He noted that political parties have a critical role to play in voter education and participation ahead of the 2027 general election.
On legal developments affecting election preparations, Amupitan revealed that INEC has appealed recent Federal High Court judgments concerning aspects of its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
According to him, the differing court rulings have raised significant questions regarding the Commission’s constitutional authority to regulate timelines for electoral activities and candidate nominations.
He explained that INEC approached the appellate courts to seek legal clarity and ensure certainty in preparations for the elections.
The Commission maintained that electoral activities are interconnected processes that require coordinated scheduling to guarantee transparency, administrative efficiency, and equal treatment of all political parties.
Amupitan also expressed concern over the increasing number of court cases arising from leadership disputes within political parties, describing the trend as an unnecessary distraction that could negatively impact preparations for future elections.
“Political parties must resolve their internal leadership issues promptly. We consider these disputes unnecessary distractions and hope they are resolved without further delay in the interest of Nigeria’s democracy and electoral stability,” he said.
Speaking on preparations for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026, the INEC chairman said the Commission had made significant progress in logistics, deployment of election technology, personnel training, and stakeholder engagement.
INEC further announced that bye-elections will be conducted on the same day in Enugu North, Nasarawa North, Rivers South East, and Ondo South Senatorial Districts, as well as in Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State and Zuru State Constituency in Kebbi State.
Looking ahead to the Osun State governorship election slated for August 15, 2026, the Commission urged political parties to strictly comply with all electoral guidelines and timelines.
