ABUJA — The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and political parties are at odds over the issuance of access codes for the commission’s candidate nomination portal, raising concerns ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Party officials said yesterday that the process of obtaining the codes has been “not smooth,” and warned that delays could affect their ability to upload candidates’ particulars before INEC’s deadline.
The access codes are required for recognized political parties to log into INEC’s portal and submit the names, credentials, photographs, and affidavits of their candidates. Without the codes, parties cannot make any uploads.
Parties are urging INEC to open the process to all political parties without interference, saying every party must be allowed to participate fully in the nomination process.
INEC has not issued a detailed public response to the latest complaints as of press time. In previous election cycles, the commission said the portal and code system are designed to secure uploads and prevent duplicate or fraudulent entries.
Electoral analysts note that timely candidate uploads are a critical first step before primaries and final nominations. Delays or technical hitches at this stage have in the past led to disqualifications, court challenges, and last-minute substitutions.
The dispute comes as parties begin early preparations for 2027, with INEC expected to release the full election timetable in the coming months.
