JUST-IN: INEC grants candidate upload access codes to APC, NDC, ADC, PDP, others (Full List)

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued access codes to nine political parties, enabling them to upload the names of their candidates for the 2027 general elections.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the parties include the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and several others.

The uploaded candidates will contest for the offices of President, Senate, House of Representatives and governorship positions across the federation, excluding Kogi and Osun states, which conduct off-cycle governorship elections.

A senior INEC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed on Monday that the NDC was among the parties granted access to the commission’s candidate nomination portal, dismissing reports that the party had been denied the required credentials.

“It is misinformation to suggest that the NDC was denied access code to upload its candidates to the INEC portal,” the official said.

“The commission has no reason whatsoever to deny any registered political party access to the platform. I can confirm on good authority that the NDC was among the parties that received their access codes to upload the names of their candidates.”

The clarification follows claims by officials of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, which is currently challenging a court ruling seeking its deregistration.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, had earlier alleged that the NDC approached INEC for the access code but was informed that the commission would respond later.

“We approached INEC to collect the access code to upload the names of our candidates to the INEC portal. They told us that they would get back to us,” he had said, insisting that any delay should not be blamed on the party.

However, the INEC official maintained that the commission had treated all eligible political parties fairly and transparently, adding that additional parties were expected to receive their access codes before the close of business on Monday.

According to the official, the number of political parties granted access could increase from nine to 13.

The commission also urged Nigerians to disregard reports suggesting that any registered political party would be prevented from accessing the candidate nomination portal, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring a level playing field for all participants in the 2027 general elections.