By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed that political parties will begin collecting access codes for the Candidate Nomination Portal on Friday, June 26, 2026, as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, announced that the access codes would enable authorised national officers of political parties to upload the names and particulars of candidates who emerged from party primaries into the commission’s fully automated nomination portal.
According to the electoral body, the online portal for presidential and National Assembly candidates will open on June 27 and close on July 11, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates will be uploaded between July 18 and August 8.
The commission warned political parties to ensure that their ICT personnel and designated officials are adequately prepared, stressing that the portal would automatically close once the deadline expires and that no extension would be granted.
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INEC had earlier revised the electoral timetable following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, bringing forward the dates for the 2027 polls.
Under the revised schedule, Nigerians will elect the President and members of the National Assembly on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated for Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The commission said party primaries and the resolution of disputes arising from them were concluded on May 30, 2026, paving the way for the nomination phase.
Professor Amupitan also expressed concern over the growing number of intra-party litigations, warning that internal disputes among political parties could distract stakeholders from preparations for the elections.
He urged political parties to intensify voter education and mobilisation efforts, particularly as the Continuous Voter Registration exercise continues across the country.
The Merit Newspaper reports that INEC maintained that all political activities would be conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act, assuring Nigerians of its commitment to conducting peaceful, credible and inclusive elections that would reflect the will of the electorate.
With the candidate nomination process set to commence later this month, political parties are expected to shift attention from internal primaries to preparations for campaigns and the 2027 contest, which promises to shape Nigeria’s political landscape for the next four years.
