The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will release access codes on June 26, 2026, to enable political parties begin uploading details of their candidates for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during a quarterly meeting with leaders of registered political parties.
According to him, the move follows the conclusion of party primaries, which ended on May 30, 2026.
He explained that the access codes will be issued to authorised national officers of each political party. These officials will be responsible for submitting candidates’ personal details and other required information through INEC’s nomination portal.
Prof. Amupitan urged political parties to prepare adequately for the exercise, warning that the process is fully automated and strictly time-bound.
He stressed that once the submission window closes, the portal will shut automatically, leaving no room for late entries.
“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,” 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,” he added.
The INEC chairman further called on parties to ensure their ICT teams and relevant officials are well-prepared ahead of the exercise.
He also raised concerns over ongoing court cases linked to internal party leadership disputes, describing them as distractions that could affect election preparations.
Amupitan urged political actors to resolve such issues quickly in order to keep the electoral timetable on track.
Reaffirming INEC’s independence, he assured stakeholders that the commission would continue to carry out its duties fairly and in line with constitutional provisions.
He also encouraged political parties to intensify voter education and mobilise citizens for the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, so that eligible voters can 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 despite pending legal appeals affecting parts of INEC’s timetable, preparations for the 2027 elections would continue as scheduled under the law.