By Rita Amaechi
National News – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and several political parties are at odds over the issuance of access codes required for uploading candidates’ details ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising fresh concerns over the implementation of the electoral timetable.
While INEC insists that the access codes have been released and that political parties were trained on their use last Thursday and Friday, many parties maintain they are yet to receive the credentials needed to access the commission’s online nomination portal.
Under INEC’s revised election timetable, political parties are expected to submit the nomination forms and personal particulars of presidential and National Assembly candidates between June 27 and July 11, 2026. The commission has maintained that the July 11 deadline remains unchanged.
An INEC official said the commission had organised training sessions for party representatives and deployed technical personnel to assist parties experiencing difficulties with the nomination process.
The commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victoria Eta-Messi, dismissed claims that parties had not been issued access codes, insisting that distribution followed the training exercise. She urged parties to await the completion of the exercise before alleging that codes had not been released.
However, officials of several political parties disputed the commission’s position.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) said they were still waiting for the access codes, while officials of the Labour Party (LP) also disclosed that they had not received the credentials, although they had already distributed nomination forms to aspirants.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) similarly said it had formally requested the access code from INEC but had yet to receive a response. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, said the delay came amid ongoing legal battles over the party’s registration.
The NDC is appealing a Federal High Court judgment in Lokoja directing INEC not to recognise the party pending the resolution of disputes surrounding its registration. Despite the ruling, the party’s leadership insisted it would continue preparations for the 2027 elections and expressed confidence that its candidates, including its presidential flag bearer, would remain on the ballot after the appeal process.
In contrast, the Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) Party confirmed that it had received notification from INEC that its access code was available for collection.
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) also said INEC had commenced issuing access codes for the forthcoming Osun State governorship election, adding that it expected the process for the 2027 general election to gather momentum shortly.
The disagreement comes as rival factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) seek recognition from INEC to upload candidates on the commission’s portal, adding another layer of complexity to preparations for the next general election.
INEC has repeatedly assured political parties that technical support remains available throughout the nomination period and urged them to complete their submissions before the July 11 deadline.
