2027 Poll: INEC Portal Closes As Parties Complete Candidate Uploads

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has closed its Candidate Nomination Portal for the submission of governorship and State House of Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to Ireporter Online, the portal shut at 11:59pm on Tuesday, August 11, following a three-day extension granted by the electoral commission.

The initial deadline for political parties to submit the particulars of their candidates was August 8. However, INEC extended the deadline after several political parties requested additional time to complete the process.

An INEC official confirmed that parties made use of the extra window provided by the commission, noting that the extension was granted specifically to enable them conclude their submissions.

Political parties reported to have completed the process include the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), among others.

The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, had earlier announced that the ruling party successfully uploaded the details of its candidates for the various elective positions.

Similarly, NNPP founder Dr Boniface Aniebonam disclosed that his party had submitted candidates for more than 90 per cent of the available positions.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the extension was approved in response to appeals from political parties that needed more time to complete the nomination process.

The commission said all candidate details were submitted through its Candidate Nomination Portal.

However, INEC said it would not immediately disclose the final number of political parties and candidates that successfully completed the exercise until the submitted information had been reconciled and verified.

A senior commission official explained that releasing preliminary figures immediately after the portal closed could result in inaccurate statistics because parties were permitted to continue making submissions until the final deadline.

The commission is expected to verify the information before publishing the final figures.

The latest extension represents the second adjustment INEC has made to a candidate submission deadline ahead of the 2027 elections.

In July, the commission extended the deadline for presidential and National Assembly candidates from July 11 to July 14 after political parties, through the Inter-Party Advisory Council, raised concerns over difficulties encountered while uploading candidates’ details.

INEC said the additional time was intended to ensure that all registered political parties had a fair opportunity to complete the nomination process.