INEC Sets Deadline for candidate submission, Parties Move Fast

The Independent National Electoral Commission fixed June 26 for the release of access codes to its candidate nomination portal and July 11 as the deadline for political parties to submit the particulars of candidates for the 2027 general elections.

The development has triggered fresh efforts by political parties to settle post-primary disputes, conclude consultations on running mates and finalise candidate lists before the submission window closes.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the dates during the commission’s Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of registered political parties. He explained that authorised national officers of political parties would receive access codes that would enable them upload the names and details of their candidates through the commission’s nomination portal.

According to him, political parties will begin accessing the portal from June 27, while all candidate information must be submitted before July 11. He warned that the process is fully automated and that the portal would shut automatically once the deadline expires. He therefore urged parties to ensure their ICT personnel and relevant officials are ready ahead of the exercise.

Amupitan also expressed concern over lingering court cases involving party leadership disputes and internal disagreements. He said such matters could distract political parties and affect preparations for the elections if not resolved quickly.

The INEC chairman assured stakeholders that the commission would continue to carry out its duties in line with the Constitution and electoral laws. He also called on political parties to intensify voter education campaigns and encourage Nigerians to register and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards before the elections.

While preparations continue, INEC is also challenging two Federal High Court judgments that affected parts of its electoral timetable. The commission said it had approached higher courts for clarification on the extent of its powers in managing election activities.

One of the judgments arose from a suit filed by the Youth Party, while the second followed a case brought by the Social Democratic Party. Although the court affirmed INEC’s authority to issue an election timetable, parts of the schedule relating to candidate nomination and substitution were struck out.

Amupitan maintained that the electoral timetable is a connected framework that cannot be broken into separate parts without affecting election planning. He explained that several activities, including verification of party membership registers, monitoring of primaries, nomination processes, ballot printing, personnel training, voter education and deployment of election materials, are linked together and must follow a coordinated schedule.

Despite the legal challenge, he assured Nigerians that preparations for the 2027 general elections would continue without interruption.

As political parties prepare for the submission process, several of them confirmed that they are making progress. The African Democratic Congress said it was still handling appeals from aggrieved aspirants before forwarding the names of successful candidates to INEC.

The Young Progressives Party stated that it was ready to begin uploading candidates’ names once the portal becomes available. The All Progressives Grand Alliance also disclosed that it had completed the compilation of its candidate list and would submit it when the portal opens.

The Social Democratic Party said it was processing documents relating to all candidates who emerged from its primaries, while the Nigerian Democratic Congress announced that it had completed its primaries and was ready for submission.

The Labour Party also expressed confidence that it would meet the deadline. Party officials disclosed that its National Executive Committee would meet this week to approve the final nomination list before forwarding it to INEC.

Meanwhile, consultations over vice-presidential candidates are still ongoing in some parties. The Labour Party said discussions regarding its running mate were nearing completion, while the SDP revealed that its presidential candidate, Prince Adewole Adebayo, was consulting party stakeholders before making a final decision.

So far, the Nigerian Democratic Congress remains the only major party that has unveiled a vice-presidential candidate after naming former Kano State governor Musa Kwankwaso as running mate to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

At the same time, African Democratic Congress presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has intensified consultations over his own running mate. The former Vice President recently held talks with former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, a move that has fueled speculation about a possible alliance ahead of the 2027 election.

Sources within the party said Atiku is considering several options as he works to build a ticket capable of mounting a strong challenge in the next presidential contest. Discussions have also linked media entrepreneur Dele Momodu to the vice-presidential race, although no official decision has been announced.

With the nomination deadline approaching and internal disputes still lingering in some parties, the coming weeks are expected to shape the final list of candidates who will contest the 2027 general elections.