INEC set new date to Release Candidate Upload Portal Access Codes to Political Parties
INEC set new date to Release Candidate Upload Portal Access Codes to Political Parties
INEC to Release Portal Access Codes to Political Parties on Monday to Upload Nominated Candidates for 2027 Poll
Registered political parties in Nigeria are set to receive official access codes on Monday, June 29, 2026, enabling them to upload details of their nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections via the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Candidate Nomination Portal.
This development marks a critical milestone in the electoral timetable, following the conclusion of most party primaries by May 30, 2026. It shifts focus from internal party selections to formal submission and scrutiny of candidates by the electoral umpire.
INEC Chairman Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan disclosed the timeline during a recent quarterly meeting with leaders of registered political parties.
The commission will issue access codes to authorized national officers of each party, who will be responsible for uploading nominees’ biodata, personal particulars, and other required documentation into the secure INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP).
“The portal is fully automated and will close automatically at the expiration of the prescribed period,” Amupitan warned, emphasizing strict adherence to deadlines.
He urged parties to prepare their ICT personnel adequately, as the process demands precision to avoid errors or disqualifications.
To facilitate a smooth process, INEC conducted a two-day training program for political party officials on June 25-26, 2026, at The Electoral Institute.
The training covered procedures for electronic submission of candidates’ documents, aiming to minimize common nomination errors seen in past cycles.
The 2027 general elections are scheduled with Presidential and National Assembly polls on Saturday, January 16, 2027, and Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections on Saturday, February 6, 2027 (following adjustments to the original timetable).
Key deadlines include the completion of candidate uploads by around July 11, 2026, in line with statutory requirements. This leaves parties with a tight window to finalize and submit their lists after primaries.
Several major parties, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and others, have conducted primaries but have not yet publicly released comprehensive final lists of candidates for governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and state assembly seats. This delay has created anxiety among aspirants and stakeholders.
• APC: Facing internal disputes in states like Ondo, with lingering issues over primaries and candidate selection.
• LP: Indicated it has ratified its lists and plans to begin uploading as early as June 28.
• Other parties are under pressure to resolve disputes and ensure only validly nominated candidates are uploaded, as only authorized national officers can make submissions per constitutional and electoral guidelines.
INEC has stressed that parties must handle this responsibly, with the portal designed to enforce compliance and reduce litigation risks post-submission.
