ABUJA:  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several political parties are at odds over the distribution of access codes required to upload candidate details onto the commission’s online nomination portal for the 2027 general elections.

According to INEC’s official timeline, these access codes were scheduled for release last Friday. While the majority of political parties claim they have not yet received them, the electoral body maintains that the codes are available.

Training and Deadlines

INEC officials stated that the commission conducted a two-day training session on Thursday and Friday for political party representatives to help them navigate the online portal. The electoral umpire emphasized that the deadline for uploading presidential and National Assembly candidates remains strictly fixed for July 11, 2026.

Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, dismissed allegations that the commission was withholding the data. She questioned whether the complaining parties had attended the mandatory training sessions, adding that any outstanding codes would be resolved by Monday.

Party Responses and Internal Disputes

The dispute arrives amidst internal friction within major political groups, including rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), both competing for INEC's validation to upload their respective candidate lists. Representatives from the ADC and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) confirmed over the weekend that the codes were still outstanding, though they noted INEC had promised delivery once final preparations were complete. Conversely, the leadership of the Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) party confirmed that INEC had notified them the codes were ready for collection early this week.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) acknowledged that while INEC had successfully distributed codes for the upcoming off-season governorship election in Osun State, it remained unclear if the 2027 general election codes had been fully disbursed. The party commended INEC's efforts, noting that the commission is currently managing a heavy workload compounded by recent legislative changes, regional bye-elections, and extensive internal party litigations.

Legal Hurdles for the NDC

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) confirmed it has not yet received its access codes, a situation complicated by a fresh legal setback. A Federal High Court in Lokoja recently overturned a previous ruling, ordering INEC to halt recognition of the NDC as a political party due to a trademark dispute over its logo filed by the Peace Movement Party (PMP).

The NDC has rejected the judgment and plans to file for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal. NDC National Chairman Senator Cleopas Zuwoghe expressed confidence in the judiciary, asserting that the legal challenge would not disrupt their preparations or remove their candidates—including presidential aspirant Peter Obi—from the 2027 ballot.

Next Steps in the Election Timeline

Per the revised 2027 election timetable, the online window to submit personal particulars and nomination lists (Forms EC9 through EC9E) opened on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

• Presidential & National Assembly Candidates: Portal closes at 6:00 PM on July 11, 2026.

• Governorship & State Houses of Assembly Candidates: Portal opens on July 18, 2026, and closes at 6:00 PM on August 8, 2026.

The submission window complies with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates that all candidate nominations must be finalized at least 120 days prior to the general election.