INEC Shifts Release of Party Access Codes for 2027 Elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rescheduled the issuance of access codes to political parties, moving it to Monday, June 29. The codes will enable parties to upload details of their nominated candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission had earlier fixed Friday, June 26, for the release, but the date was adjusted to ensure a smoother and more efficient uploading process, according to sources within INEC and political party circles.
Although nomination forms have already been distributed to political parties, the online submission portal is yet to be activated pending the release of the access codes.
An INEC insider, speaking to ThisDay, explained that the remaining step is the uploading of completed nomination forms once the access codes become available. “The parties have received the forms to be filled, but the access code for uploading has not been released until Monday,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued certificates of return to its selected candidates and also distributed INEC nomination forms to them in preparation for submission.
During the ceremony, the party leadership, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, endorsed the results of all primaries covering presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly positions. Candidates were directed to complete and return their forms within 72 hours to allow prompt submission once the portal opens.
Under INEC’s election timetable for 2027, presidential and National Assembly candidates are expected to upload their nomination details between June 27 and July 11, 2026, while governorship and State Assembly submissions will run from July 18 to August 8, 2026.
The commission is scheduled to publish personal details of presidential and National Assembly candidates on August 14, 2026, followed by governorship candidates on August 20, 2026, allowing public scrutiny of their information.
Campaign activities are expected to begin on August 19, 2026, for presidential and National Assembly races, and September 9, 2026, for governorship and State Assembly elections, ahead of the polls slated for early 2027.
