INEC, Parties Clash Over Access Codes Ahead 2027 Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties are locked in a dispute over access codes required to upload candidates’ particulars for the 2027 general elections.

While INEC insists the codes have been released and training conducted, several parties maintain they are yet to receive them. The disagreement has raised concerns about compliance with the commission’s strict timetable.

INEC says it distributed the codes on Friday, June 26, 2026, and trained party representatives on Thursday and Friday to ensure smooth use of its online nomination portal. According to the commission, the deadline for uploading presidential and National Assembly candidates remains July 11, 2026.

Victoria Eta-Messi, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, dismissed claims of delay. She argued that parties must attend the training before receiving codes. “Were they expecting to have been given codes without the training?” she asked, stressing that the process was ongoing and support staff were available to assist.

The commission’s revised timetable shows that the portal for presidential and National Assembly candidates opened on June 27 and will close on July 11. For governorship and state assembly candidates, the portal opens July 18 and closes August 8.

Despite INEC’s assurances, many parties insist they have not received the codes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) said they were still waiting. The Labour Party (LP) also confirmed it had not been issued codes, though it had distributed nomination forms to candidates.

Factional disputes within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) further complicate matters, with rival groups seeking INEC’s recognition to upload candidates.

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) faces additional hurdles. A Federal High Court in Lokoja recently ordered INEC not to recognise the party pending resolution of legal disputes over its registration. The NDC has vowed to appeal, insisting its candidates, including presidential hopeful Peter Obi, remain on the ballot.

Among the parties, only the Because Of Our Tomorrow (BOOT) party confirmed receipt of the access code. Its chairman, Sunny Adenuga, said the party would collect the code early in the week.

The clash comes amid heavy workload for INEC, which has just concluded an off-season governorship election in Ekiti and bye-elections in six states. The commission is also preparing for the Osun governorship election, where codes for uploading polling agents have already been issued.

Political parties, meanwhile, continue to grapple with internal litigations and factional disputes, adding pressure on the electoral body.

Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires that candidate nominations be submitted not later than 120 days before the election. INEC’s online portal is designed to enforce this deadline, with access codes serving as the gateway for parties to upload Forms EC9 and related documents.

The EC9 form captures candidates’ personal particulars, while EC9A to EC9E list nominated candidates for various offices.

The dispute highlights persistent challenges in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the balance between INEC’s digital reforms and parties’ readiness. While INEC insists the system is straightforward, parties argue that delays in issuing codes could jeopardise compliance.

Observers note that the controversy underscores the need for transparency and coordination between the commission and political parties. With deadlines fast approaching, failure to resolve the disagreement could trigger legal battles and further strain Nigeria’s electoral system.

As the July 11 deadline looms, INEC and political parties must urgently reconcile their positions. The credibility of the 2027 elections depends on timely submission of candidate details, adherence to the Electoral Act, and cooperation between stakeholders.

The clash over access codes is more than a technical dispute; it is a test of Nigeria’s ability to manage electoral logistics in a digital age.