By Opeyemi Adelakun
Political parties are scrambling to resolve post-primary disputes, finalise candidate lists and conclude consultations on running mates following the Independent National Electoral Commission’s announcement of key deadlines for the 2027 general elections.
INEC said it would issue access codes to political parties on June 26 to enable them upload candidates’ particulars to its nomination portal, while July 11 has been fixed as the deadline for submission of candidates’ details.
The commission also warned that unresolved leadership disputes and ongoing legal challenges against aspects of its electoral timetable could complicate preparations for the 2027 polls.
Speaking during the Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of registered political parties in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, urged political parties to ensure they meet all deadlines and adequately prepare their ICT personnel for the nomination exercise.
“On Friday, 26th June, 2026, the commission will issue official access codes to all political parties for the purpose of accessing the Candidate Nomination Portal.
“These access codes will enable designated national officers of political parties to upload the names, personal particulars and other required information relating to nominated candidates,” he said.
Amupitan stressed that the portal is fully automated and would automatically close once the deadline expires, warning parties against last-minute submissions.
He also expressed concern over lingering court cases involving party leadership disputes and electoral processes, describing them as avoidable distractions capable of affecting election preparations.
According to him, INEC has appealed two recent Federal High Court judgments that questioned certain components of the commission’s timetable for the 2027 elections.
The INEC chairman explained that the electoral timetable is an interconnected framework that guides critical activities, including party primaries, candidate nominations, voter education, training of election personnel, procurement of sensitive materials and deployment of election technology.
“The commission therefore considers it imperative that all electoral activities be harmonised within a coherent and workable framework that promotes certainty, transparency, administrative efficiency and equal treatment of all political parties,” Amupitan stated.
Despite the legal challenges, he assured Nigerians that preparations for the 2027 elections would continue in line with constitutional provisions and existing court directives.
Meanwhile, major political parties have begun final preparations for the submission of candidates’ names.
The African Democratic Congress, through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party was currently addressing appeals arising from its primary elections before forwarding candidates’ names to INEC.
“The ADC is currently dealing with the issues arising from appeals by those who felt aggrieved at the primaries. We have time, and we will do the needful once this process is over,” Abdullahi said.
The Young Progressives Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance also confirmed their readiness to upload candidates’ details once INEC opens the nomination portal.
Similarly, the Social Democratic Party said it was compiling all necessary documents ahead of the July 11 deadline.
Labour Party spokesman, Ken Asogwa, disclosed that the party’s National Executive Committee would meet this week to ratify its nomination list before forwarding it to INEC.
“It is already ongoing. I am sure we will beat the deadline. We have an NEC meeting on Thursday where the whole nomination list will be approved,” he said.
The Labour Party and SDP also confirmed that consultations are ongoing regarding the selection of their vice-presidential candidates.
While the Nigerian Democratic Congress has already unveiled Musa Kwankwaso as the running mate to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, other major parties are yet to conclude discussions on their tickets.
In the African Democratic Congress, consultations are also intensifying over the choice of a running mate for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Sources within the party indicated that former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, remains a strong contender following his performance during the ADC presidential primaries.
Atiku’s aide on Public Communications, Phrank Shaibu, described ongoing meetings among party leaders as part of broader consultations aimed at building a strong political alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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