The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that nine registered political parties have collected INEC access codes required to upload the particulars of their presidential and National Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The disclosure was made on Tuesday in Abuja by INEC National Commissioner for Voter Education and Publicity, Mohammed Haruna, who said the parties had completed the collection process as of the close of business on Monday. The access codes enable political parties to submit candidates’ information electronically through the commission’s official nomination portal in line with the electoral timetable.
Haruna said the nine political parties that have obtained the INEC access codes are: Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), National Democratic Party (NDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP)
According to the INEC commissioner, the responsibility for obtaining the access codes rests with political parties, which are expected to approach the commission rather than waiting for the codes to be delivered. He explained that only authorised representatives of political parties can collect the codes after presenting a formal letter of authorisation from their party leadership.
Haruna noted that INEC has already issued detailed guidelines governing the nomination process and trained party officials on how to complete submissions through the online portal. He urged political parties to comply fully with the commission’s procedures to avoid unnecessary delays during the nomination exercise.
Haruna also advised political parties not to postpone uploading candidates’ details until the final day of the submission window. According to him, although INEC has provided flexibility by allowing submissions until midnight on the closing date instead of ending at the close of official working hours, parties should not rely on last-minute filings.
“INEC has been generous by extending the deadline from the close of work to midnight of the deadline date. If any political party decides to wait until the deadline, INEC cannot be blamed for that.”
The commission warned that parties bear full responsibility for ensuring that all nomination forms are completed and submitted within the stipulated period.
Under INEC’s timetable for the 2027 general elections, political parties are required to submit nomination forms for presidential and National Assembly candidates between June 27 and July 11, 2026, through the commission’s dedicated online nomination portal. The commission has also scheduled the submission of nomination forms for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates from July 18 to August 8, 2026.
The collection of INEC access codes by nine political parties marks another milestone in preparations for the 2027 general elections. As the nomination process continues, INEC has urged all participating parties to follow its guidelines closely and complete candidate submissions well before the deadline to ensure a smooth electoral process.
