The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and various political organizations are currently at odds regarding the distribution of access codes required to upload candidate information for the upcoming 2027 general elections. According to the commission’s official timeline, these codes were scheduled for release last Friday. While the electoral body maintains that it held necessary training sessions for party representatives on Thursday and Friday to facilitate the process, most parties claim they have not yet received the credentials.
INEC officials assert that the deadline for submitting candidate details remains July 11, 2026. Victoria Eta-Messi, the commission’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, suggested that any claims of non-receipt might stem from parties failing to attend the mandatory training sessions. Despite these assertions, several major political entities, including the ADC and the Labour Party, have reported that they are still awaiting the codes. Meanwhile, the BOOT party confirmed it had been notified that its code is ready for collection.
The nomination process is governed by Section 29(1) of the 2026 Electoral Act, which mandates that candidate lists be finalized 120 days prior to the election. While the portal for Presidential and National Assembly candidates opened on June 27, some party stakeholders have expressed frustration, noting that the ongoing internal litigations and heavy administrative burdens are complicating the election preparations. As the July 11 deadline approaches, INEC continues to offer technical support to parties to ensure compliance with the submission requirements.
