Political parties are intensifying efforts to resolve post-primary disputes and finalise candidate nominations after the Independent National Electoral Commission fixed July 11, 2026, as the deadline for submitting candidates’ particulars for the 2027 general elections. INEC also announced that access codes for its nomination portal would be issued to political parties on June 26.
Speaking during the Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with political parties in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, warned that unresolved internal crises and court cases challenging parts of the electoral timetable could disrupt preparations for the polls. He stressed that the nomination portal would close automatically once the deadline expires and urged parties to ensure their ICT personnel are fully prepared.
INEC disclosed that it has filed appeals against two Federal High Court judgments questioning aspects of its election timetable. According to the commission, the timetable is an interconnected framework covering party primaries, candidate nominations, voter education, procurement of election materials, and deployment logistics, warning that altering one aspect could create uncertainty and administrative chaos.
Several political parties, including the African Democratic Congress, Young Progressives Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, Labour Party, and Social Democratic Party, confirmed they were working to meet the deadline. While some parties are still resolving appeals arising from their primaries, others said they had completed candidate compilation and would begin uploading names once the portal becomes operational.
Meanwhile, consultations over vice-presidential candidates continue within some parties ahead of the 2027 election. The Labour Party and SDP said discussions on running mates were ongoing, while the Nigerian Democratic Congress has already named former Kano State governor, Musa Kwankwaso, as running mate to its presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is also reportedly consulting political allies as he considers his choice of running mate.
