The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will release access codes on June 26, 2026. This will let political parties start uploading candidate details for the 2027 general elections through the nomination portal.
The INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, announced this in Abuja on Tuesday. He spoke during a quarterly meeting with leaders of registered political parties.
He said this move comes after party primaries finish on May 30, 2026.
The access codes will go to national officers of each political party. These officers will upload nominees' biodata and other required information into the system.
Amupitan warned that parties must take this process seriously. He urged them to ensure their ICT staff are ready for the task. Deadlines will be strictly enforced.
He said, "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 added, "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 encouraged parties to prepare their ICT staff and relevant officers properly. All submissions should be completed well before the deadlines. The portal is fully automated and will close automatically once the time is up.
Amupitan also raised concerns about unresolved court cases regarding party leadership. He called these distractions that could harm electoral preparations.
He urged political actors to resolve such issues quickly. This will help keep the electoral timetable on track.
He confirmed that INEC is independent and will continue to perform its duties fairly and according to the law.
The INEC chairman also encouraged parties to boost voter education. He asked them to mobilize citizens to join the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and get their Permanent Voter Cards before the elections.
He said, "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."
Amupitan added that INEC would treat all parties equally while strictly following the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and all guidelines.
He noted that even with pending appeals against two Federal High Court judgments affecting parts of INEC’s timetable, preparations for the 2027 elections will continue as planned under lawful court orders.
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