There is suspense within the political space as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) releases access codes that will allow political parties upload candidates’ details for the 2027 general elections through its nomination portal today.
Weeks after political parties finished primaries for various elective offices ahead of the 2027, they have refused to unveil candidates of various offices, save for presidential slot.
While Bola Tinubu emerged APC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar as ADC candidate while Peter Obi got the NDC ticket. Donald Duke, Prince Adewole, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and Sowore, got the presidential tickets of PRP, SDP, AP and AAC respectively.
However, none of the parties has revealed the candidates for governorship, federal and state elective offices, despite protests and allegations of discrepancies over the outcome of primaries across parties.
For most parties, the fear stems largely from a substitution of candidates names against the outcome at the primaries, while in others it’s about which faction of the party gets INEC recognition.
Only the party leadership is empowered to submit names of candidates as provided by the constitution.
INEC chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, during a recent quarterly meeting with leaders of registered political parties, set June 26, 2026 for the release of access codes to the portal.
He said the step followed the completion of party primaries on May 30, 2026.
According to him, the access codes will be issued to authorised national officers of each political party, who will be responsible for uploading nominees’ biodata and other required information into the system.
Amupitan cautioned that the process must be taken seriously, urging parties to ensure their ICT personnel are fully prepared ahead of the exercise, as deadlines would be strictly enforced.
However, intrigues has trailed the candidature for elective offices especially in APC, PDP and NDC.
In APC, there is general tension and anxiety among both those who were named winners at their constituencies level and those who approached the appeals committees on what would be the final verdict of the National Working Committee (NWC).
This was the offshoot of tussles between governors and serving lawmakers in some states.
