Parties, INEC Trade Words Over Candidate Upload Codes for 2027 Polls

Fresh disagreement has emerged between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties over access codes required for uploading candidates’ details ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While INEC said the codes had already been issued following a training exercise for party representatives, most political parties claimed they were yet to receive them.

Under the commission’s election timetable, access codes became available for collection on Friday, June 26, 2026.

INEC maintained that party officials were trained last Thursday and Friday on the use of its online nomination portal and insisted that submissions for presidential and National Assembly candidates must be completed by July 11.

“We are interfacing with them. They have until July 11 to finish their uploads. It’s too early to talk about compliance or otherwise,” a senior INEC official said.

The source added: “If they have challenges, our personnel are on standby to assist. It’s nothing difficult.”

INEC spokesperson Victoria Eta-Messi dismissed claims that parties had not received the codes.

“Any party claiming that they do not have the access codes, ask them if they were at the training on Thursday and Friday,” she said.

“The training continues and if by Monday they have not got the codes, then they can now make such claims.”

According to the commission’s revised schedule, online submission of Forms EC9 and EC9A–E for presidential and National Assembly candidates opened on June 27 and will close on July 11, 2026.

Despite INEC’s position, several parties including the ADC, PRP, Labour Party and NDC insisted they were still awaiting access credentials.

ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi and PRP official Mohammed Ishaq said INEC had informed parties that the codes would be released once ready.

A Labour Party source also said no political party had received the codes as of Saturday.

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) similarly said it had requested the codes without success.

“We have approached INEC but they are yet to respond to our request,” NDC spokesperson Osa Director stated.

The issue comes amid legal and internal disputes affecting some political parties, including rival factions within the PDP and ADC seeking recognition from INEC to upload candidates.

Meanwhile, the NNPP said INEC had already begun issuing codes for the Osun off-season governorship election.

NNPP National Secretary Dipo Olayoku commended the electoral body, noting that INEC was handling a heavy workload due to recent elections and increasing political litigation.

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