Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will release access codes for its candidate nomination portal on June 26, 2026, marking a key step in preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The codes will allow political parties to begin uploading details of their nominated candidates through INEC’s digital nomination system after the completion of party primaries on May 30.
The announcement was made in Abuja on Tuesday by the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, during a quarterly meeting with leaders of registered political parties.
According to him, the access codes will be issued to authorised national officers of each political party, who will be responsible for submitting candidates’ biodata and other required information through the portal.
He urged political parties to take the process seriously and ensure their ICT teams are fully prepared, warning that all deadlines would be strictly enforced.
“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,” Amupitan 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 that the nomination system is fully automated and will close once the deadline expires, stressing that late submissions would not be accepted.
The INEC chairman also raised concerns over unresolved court cases linked to internal party leadership disputes, describing them as distractions that could disrupt electoral preparations.
He called on political actors to resolve such issues quickly in order to ensure smooth progress toward the elections.
Reaffirming the commission’s neutrality, Amupitan said INEC would continue to carry out its duties impartially and in line with constitutional provisions.
He also encouraged political parties to intensify voter education campaigns and mobilise citizens to participate in the Continuous Voter Registration exercise ahead of the polls.
“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,” he said.
He urged parties to conduct transparent primaries, avoid violence, hate speech and vote buying, and focus on issue-based campaigns.
INEC also noted that despite pending appeals against two Federal High Court judgments affecting parts of its timetable, preparations for the elections would continue in line with lawful court directives.
The commission said it remains committed to ensuring equal treatment for all political parties while adhering strictly to the Electoral Act and the Nigerian Constitution.