2027: INEC insists on defending electoral timetable in court, sets to open access codes for candidates

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that following the conclusion of the political parties’ primaries, the Commission is transitioning to the candidate nomination phase.

According to the electoral umpire, official access codes will on Friday, 26th June, 2026, be issued to all political parties for the purpose of accessing the candidates’ nomination portal.

Making this declaration at the quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties, INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, assured that access codes will enable designated national officers of political parties to upload the names, personal particulars and other required information relating to nominated candidates.

“I urge political parties to ensure that their ICT personnel and relevant officers are adequately prepared and that all submissions are completed well before the stipulated deadlines.

“The portal is fully automated and will close automatically at the expiration of the prescribed period.

“Another important component of our preparations for future elections is the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise. The Commission remains committed to expanding voter access and ensuring that all eligible citizens are afforded the opportunity to participate in the democratic process and the data of every registered voters are protected.

“I therefore wish to reiterate that the current phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise provides an important opportunity for eligible Nigerians who have attained the age of eighteen years, as well as voters seeking transfers, corrections or updates of their records, to register and regularize their voter information.”

On the conflicting judicial pronouncements on the commission’s electoral timetable, Amupitan noted, “In view of the differing conclusions reached in the judgments and in order to ensure certainty and stability in preparations for the 2027 General Election, the commission has filed appeals against the decisions and has taken the necessary legal steps to obtain authoritative pronouncements from the Appellate Courts.

“The Commission’s position remains that the activities contained in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities are not isolated events. They are interrelated operational processes designed to ensure the orderly, transparent and successful conduct of elections.

“While the Electoral Act prescribes timelines for certain activities, there are several critical electoral processes for which no express statutory timelines are provided but which must necessarily be accommodated within the overall electoral calendar.

 “The absence of coordinated timelines for such activities would create uncertainty, disrupt election planning and undermine the Commission’s constitutional responsibility to organise, undertake and supervise elections in an efficient and credible manner.”

Shading light on the electoral Act Amendment, he said,  “These activities include, among others, the submission and verification of party membership registers; the monitoring of party primaries across the Federation; the pre-upload of the names of winners of monitored primaries by political parties on the Commission’s designated portal as an accountability mechanism aimed at strengthening internal party democracy; the nomination process itself; the printing of ballot papers and result sheets; quality assurance procedures; deployment of election materials; training of election personnel; voter education and sensitisation activities; procurement of sensitive materials, the configuration of the BVAS machines and compliance with statutory obligations such as inviting political parties to inspect samples of electoral materials pursuant to Section 42 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

“Sometimes, environmental factors are also key, such as the weather that called for the early deployment of sensitive materials and the terrain where those materials are to be deployed.

“The Commission therefore considers it imperative that all electoral activities be harmonized within a coherent and workable framework that promotes certainty, transparency, administrative efficiency and equal treatment of all political parties.

“I wish to assure political parties and the Nigerian public that notwithstanding the pending appeals, the Commission remains firmly committed to conducting the 2027 General Election in strict compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and all lawful judicial pronouncements.”

Turning to party administration and preparations for forthcoming elections, “We have issued the Regulations and Guidelines for political parties, 2026 and the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2026, in line with section 151 of the Electoral Act, 2026.

“I acknowledge the conclusion of party primaries in the relevant jurisdictions.  The primary election process remains the gateway to democratic governance, and its credibility directly impacts the quality and integrity of the electoral process.

“Following the conclusion of the primaries, the Commission is transitioning to the candidate nomination phase. Accordingly, 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.

“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. I urge political parties to ensure that their ICT personnel and relevant officers are adequately prepared and that all submissions are completed well before the stipulated deadlines.

On the outcome of  the recently concluded primaries,  the chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, Dr Yusuf Dantalle called on the National Assembly, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to undertake a comprehensive review of the Electoral Act 2026 with a view to addressing the operational deficiencies revealed during the nomination process.

“Electoral laws should promote democratic participation, strengthen political institutions, and advance the national interest rather than create avoidable obstacles to effective political competition.

“Elections remain the cornerstone of representative democracy. There is no substitute for a democratic system founded on the free expression of the will of the people.

“As we prepare for the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States and ultimately the 2027 General Election, we must collectively work to restore public trust and confidence in the electoral process. The credibility of elections is indispensable to democratic legitimacy, political stability, national cohesion, and sustainable development.

“IPAC therefore urges political actors across the country to embrace issue-based campaigns and reject all forms of violence, intimidation, hate speech, and political extremism. Democracy thrives on healthy competition of ideas, not confrontation and bloodshed.

“In this regard, the Council strongly condemns the recent incidents of political violence reported in Osun State. We call on all political actors to exercise restraint and place the national interest above partisan considerations. No political ambition is worth the loss of human life, the destruction of property, or the destabilisation of communities.

“We equally call upon security agencies to discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities with professionalism, neutrality, and diligence to ensure a peaceful political environment throughout the electoral cycle.

“As the nation’s electoral management body, INEC occupies a pivotal position in Nigeria’s democratic architecture. The Commission must continue to uphold the highest standards of impartiality, professionalism, transparency, and accountability. It is imperative that all political parties and candidates are accorded equal treatment and provided with a level playing field.”

However, the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Prof. Tukur Mohammed-Baba, says President Bola Tinubu has lost significant political standing in the North since 2023, warning that neither former Vice President Atiku Abubakar nor Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, currently offers the region a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Mohammed-Baba made the remarks on Monday during an interview on PrimeTime on Arise Television, where he also described Nigeria’s political class as lacking ideas and driven largely by personal ambition.

He said the political elite, across parties, had failed to address insecurity and the economic challenges facing the country.

“I have not seen a party that articulates a clear policy ambition or an ideological standard. The average northern voter is disillusioned and has been for a long time.

“We have tried all kinds of permutations—northern candidates, Muslim-Muslim tickets, and so on. It seems to the average northerner that all this politics is about personalities and personal interests. It is not about people,” he said.

On Tinubu, whose 2023 election victory was partly supported by voters in the North, he said the impact of his policies had been disappointing.

“The impact of his policies on the economy and especially on individual lives has been highly disappointing, if not disturbing.

“Furthermore, the insecurity thing, no matter what the government says, is getting worse. Over a year ago, we talked about the ‘Forest Guards.’ It is only recently, with the event in Oyo and in Borno States, that they are talking of deploying 1,000 forest guards in some of the states but researchers have shown that there are over 30,000 terrorists operating in our ungoverned spaces,” he said.

He also cited insecurity in parts of the North, alleging that some communities had been forced to abandon farmlands due to bandit threats.

“We are gradually normalising self-help, that unless you do something, the government will not be there to protect you. That undermines the essence of the role of the state,” he said.

Speaking on Atiku Abubakar, Mohammed-Baba described him as a “recurring decimal,”. saying he had not presented a clear alternative policy direction despite multiple presidential bids.

“I don’t see anything from him that presents an alternative apart from saying this government has failed,” he said. “Where is the beef?”

Turning to Peter Obi, he said the former Anambra State governor had lost goodwill previously enjoyed in the North due to frequent party defections.

“He has moved to two or three parties. The question we ask is: what does he want?” he said.

He also criticised remarks attributed to Rabiu Kwankwaso, saying references to northern historical figures in political messaging were inappropriate.

“In the North, that is very irreverent. It would be highly delusional for him to go that far and say he presents an alternative.

“An alternative in terms of what? Has he articulated anything on the economy, security, or anything on infrastructure? When you keep talking about things in abstract terms that run counter-intuitive to what the people have held on to, you will run into trouble,” he said.

When asked to name a presidential candidate capable of commanding northern support, Mohammed-Baba declined to do so.

“We are waiting to see,” he said.

He also cautioned against complacency within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that political dominance should not be taken for granted.

“Nothing fails like success,” he said. “Be very careful, because sometimes complacency can spring surprises.”

Mohammed-Baba further argued that the North should not be viewed as a monolithic voting bloc, noting its internal diversity and differing political interests.

According to him, rising fuel prices, insecurity, and the growing number of out-of-school children will shape voter behaviour in 2027.

“Is there anybody offering an alternative now?” he asked. “I don’t see anything.”

In the meantime, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has clarified the widespread reports claiming that party leader Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is threatening to exit the political party due to disagreements over the Kano State power-sharing formula.

The clarification was made by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, during an interview with News Central on Tuesday.

When asked to confirm the validity of the rumours, Director acknowledged that the party is aware of the situation.

He said, “I’ve heard about it. I’ve not only heard about it, we are in the middle of everything.”

He revealed that internal tensions had already begun brewing before the news went public, adding, “I remember when a press release was going to be issued by some members of the NDC who are from Kano. We adviced against it, but I think that press release still leaked.”

Director said disagreements are standard part of political party development. He explained that “the truth is that in every political organisation or political party, you must have disagreement. And I will not be tired of saying that before we are trying to have a team. And in the formation of a team, you must pass through some challenges.”

According to the party spokesperson, the leadership is actively working to resolve these internal frictions transparently. He noted, “We are in the process of sorting out when there are differences and there are conflicts, which at the end of the day,we are open and sincere about confronting it with everybody being carried along.”

However, he denied the rumours that Kwankwaso threatened to leave the party.

His words, “The truth is that there is no truth in the statements that His Excellency Dr. Rabiu Musa KwanKwanso is threatening to leave the NDC. No, that is far from it.” Director attributed the speculation to external political opponents, describing the reports as “just media conjectures and rumours, which have been intensified by those who want to see the NDC collapse, by those who are envious of the great stature of NDC as the political bride of Nigeria today.”