RismadarVoice Reporters, June 9, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will release access codes for its Candidate Nomination Portal on June 26, 2026, to enable political parties to upload details of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday during the commission’s quarterly meeting with leaders of registered political parties in Abuja.
According to him, the release of the access codes follows the conclusion of party primaries on May 30, 2026. The codes will be issued to authorised national officers of political parties who will be responsible for uploading candidates’ biodata and other required information into the nomination portal.
Amupitan urged political parties to ensure that their ICT personnel and relevant officials are adequately prepared for the exercise, warning that deadlines for submissions would be strictly enforced.
“On Friday, June 26, 2026, the commission will issue official access codes to all political parties for the purpose of accessing the Candidate Nomination Portal,” he said.
“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.”
The INEC chairman explained that the portal is fully automated and will automatically shut down once the submission window closes, advising parties to complete all uploads well ahead of the deadline.
He also expressed concern over ongoing court cases involving internal leadership disputes within some political parties, describing them as unnecessary distractions capable of affecting preparations for the 2027 elections.
Amupitan called on political actors to resolve such disputes promptly to maintain the electoral timetable and avoid disruptions to the democratic process.
Reaffirming the commission’s independence, he assured stakeholders that INEC would continue to perform its constitutional responsibilities impartially and in accordance with the Electoral Act and other relevant regulations.
He further encouraged political parties to intensify voter education campaigns and mobilise eligible citizens to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the elections.
“The success of the 2027 general election will depend not only on the preparedness of the commission but also on the commitment of political parties to uphold democratic principles, respect the rule of law, conduct transparent primaries, discourage violence, hate speech and vote buying, and promote issue-based campaigns,” he said.
Amupitan added that INEC would continue preparations for the 2027 elections despite pending appeals against two Federal High Court judgments affecting aspects of its timetable, noting that all activities would proceed in line with lawful court directives.
