The Independent National Electoral Commission says nine registered political parties have collected access codes to upload their candidates’ particulars for the Presidential and National Assembly elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Mohammed Haruna, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja.

“As of close of work on Monday, nine political have collected the access code for the national elections,” he said.

According to Haruna, the nine political parties are Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), National Democratic Party (NDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP),” he said.

He explained that it was the responsibility of the political parties participating in an election to approach the commission to collect the code, rather than INEC taking it to individual party secretariats.

Haruna added that anyone seeking to collect the code on behalf of a political party must present an authorisation letter from the leadership of the party.

He noted that INEC has issued guidelines for candidate nomination, the national commissioner advised political parties to adhere strictly to the rules, adding that party officials had already been trained by the commission.

Haruna also cautioned political parties against waiting until the last minute before completing and submitting their nomination forms online.

“INEC has been generous by extending the deadline from the close of work to midnight of the deadline date. If any political party decides to wait until the deadline, INEC cannot be blamed for that,” Haruna said.

NAN reports that INEC fixed June 27 to July 11 for political parties to submit nomination forms for the presidential and National Assembly candidates through its designated candidate nomination portal.

NAN also reports that according to INEC timetable and schedules of activities for 2027 general election, the submission of nomination forms for the governorship and State Assembly nomination is scheduled from July 18 to August 8.

(NAN)

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The Independent National Electoral Commission has restored the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) access to its candidate nomination portal, allowing the party to upload the names of its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson and presidential candidate, Peter Obi, despite the ongoing legal battle over the party’s status.

Dickson disclosed the development in a post on his X account on Tuesday.

He described it as a positive step after the party filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution against last week’s judgment of the Federal High Court in Lokoja.

He said the appeal and accompanying applications had been served on the electoral commission with a covering letter urging it to act in accordance with the law.

According to him, the NDC remains a duly registered political party and has validly conducted its primaries under INEC’s supervision.

“Today, the NDC has filed an appeal against the ruling as well as a stay of execution/injunction, which has been served with a covering letter to the INEC chairman and his team to do what is right according to law and what is legally sensible.

“The Nigeria Democratic Congress has come to stay and remains a duly registered party in Nigeria which has participated in all the political processes so far.

“Nomination processes have already been concluded and, in the eyes of the law, candidates have already emerged from the party for all offices across the country in primaries observed, monitored and recorded by INEC.

“What is left is the administrative process of submitting the names to INEC, and we have been granted access to the portal to upload our qualified candidates,” he said.

Dickson disclosed that his name and that of the party’s presidential candidate had already been uploaded to the commission’s portal.

“My name and that of the presidential candidate have been uploaded to the INEC portal, while that of the vice presidential candidate will be done tomorrow upon completion of the deposition. The process is also ongoing for other candidates,” he stated.

The Senator urged party members not to panic, noting that there was still sufficient time to complete the nomination process within INEC’s timetable.

“In accordance with the INEC timetable, which we have religiously abided by, we have between now and the 11th of next month to upload all National Assembly candidates, while those of governors and State Houses of Assembly will end on the 17th of July.

“So there is enough time for all candidates’ names to be submitted to INEC and there is no reason for anyone to panic,” he added.

The former Bayelsa State governor also appealed to unsuccessful aspirants to support the party, saying reconciliation efforts had commenced.

“The reconciliation processes have started and we expect them to reach everyone. We assure them that all those who expressed interest will be carried along in the party’s campaigns, committees and structures because they constitute the grassroots strength and the backbone of our party,” he said.

Dickson thanked INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, for what he described as the commission’s professionalism and urged the judiciary to determine the appeal in accordance with the law.

“We thank INEC, led by Professor Joash Amupitan, for their professionalism so far, and we expect them to continue on this path.
“Having filed and served our appeal and the accompanying applications, the ball is now in the court of the judiciary, and we expect the judiciary to do what is right under the law,” he said.

The development comes days after the NDC filed an appeal challenging the Federal High Court judgment that sparked uncertainty over the party’s registration, insisting the judgment neither dissolved nor deregistered the party.

The opposition party has maintained that it remains legally recognised pending the determination of its appeal.

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The Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday confirmed that it had filed a notice of appeal against the Federal High Court judgment that set aside its registration, assuring members and supporters that the party remained legally recognised and would soon serve the Independent National Electoral Commission with the court processes.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Osa Director, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, saying the party’s legal team successfully filed the appeal at the Court of Appeal in Lokoja, Kogi State.

“Yes, we succeeded in filing the appeal today. We are going to serve INEC very soon. Our legal team was in Lokoja, Kogi State, today,” he said.

Director dismissed reports suggesting that the party had been deregistered, insisting there was no cause for alarm.

“We are not in panic mode. Our candidates need not fear. The NDC is a registered party. This is still reflected on the portal of INEC,” he stated.

He also faulted media reports on the court judgment, arguing that the suit merely challenged the party’s logo and not its existence as a political party.

“The narrative in the media is not even right. The group only challenged the use of our logo in court. That does not mean we are deregistered.

“That is why we are thanking our members, supporters and Nigerians for their understanding and solidarity,” he added.

The appeal follows days of emergency strategy meetings involving the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi; his running mate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso; NDC National Leader, Seriake Dickson, members of the National Working Committee and other key stakeholders.

A senior party official had earlier told The PUNCH that the leadership held marathon meetings over the weekend to fine-tune its legal strategy before approaching the Court of Appeal.

The development comes after the Federal High Court in Lokoja set aside its earlier judgment directing INEC to register the NDC, a decision the party has described as a legal setback it is determined to overturn.

The party has maintained that the judgment does not amount to its deregistration and has reassured its candidates and supporters that it remains a legally recognised political platform pending the outcome of the appeal.

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