The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a stern warning to political parties against delaying the submission of candidates’ particulars for the 2027 general elections, declaring that it will not accept responsibility for setbacks arising from last-minute nominations.
The commission disclosed that only nine of the country’s registered political parties have so far collected the access codes required to upload and submit nomination forms through its online portal for presidential and National Assembly elections, raising concerns over what could become a familiar rush as deadlines draw near.
Speaking in Abuja, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Voter Education and Publicity, Malam Mohammed Haruna, said the parties that had obtained the codes as of the close of business on Monday 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).
Haruna stressed that it is the sole responsibility of political parties to approach the commission and collect the access credentials needed for candidate nominations, dismissing any expectation that INEC would distribute the codes to party offices.
He explained that individuals seeking to obtain the codes on behalf of their parties must present valid authorisation letters from their respective party leaderships before they can be attended to.
The commissioner further urged political parties to adhere strictly to the commission’s nomination guidelines, noting that INEC had already trained party officials on the procedures and requirements for the exercise.
He warned against the recurring practice of waiting until the final hours to complete critical electoral processes, insisting that the commission had gone out of its way to accommodate political parties but would not shoulder blame for delays caused by their own actions.
“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.
Under INEC’s timetable for the 2027 general elections, political parties are expected to upload and submit nomination forms for presidential and National Assembly candidates between June 27 and July 11 through the commission’s designated online portal.
The electoral calendar also stipulates that nomination forms for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates will be submitted between July 18 and August 8.
The warning comes as political activities gather momentum across the country ahead of the 2027 polls, with INEC insisting that compliance with established timelines remains critical to ensuring a transparent, orderly and credible electoral process.