Three Political Parties Miss INEC Deadline as 2027 Presidential Election Race Takes Shape

Three Political Parties Miss INEC Deadline as 2027 Presidential Election Race Takes Shape

Three political parties have reportedly failed to upload the names of their presidential and vice-presidential candidates before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) closed its candidate nomination portal, adding fresh uncertainty to Nigeria's 2027 general election.

According to a senior INEC official who spoke on condition of anonymity, the affected parties are the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faction led by Nyesom Wike, and the Labour Party (LP) faction led by Nenadi Usman.

The official disclosed that while virtually every registered political party completed the nomination process before the deadline, the three parties were yet to submit their presidential tickets as the portal approached its closing time.

INEC Stands Firm After Deadline Extension

INEC had earlier extended the deadline following appeals from political parties but maintained that the extension to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday would be the final opportunity for submissions.

Political parties were required to upload the names and credentials of their presidential, vice-presidential, Senate and House of Representatives candidates through the commission's online nomination portal in line with the Electoral Act.

APC, ADC and NDC Beat the Deadline

Among the major parties that successfully completed the process were:

- All Progressives Congress (APC): President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

- African Democratic Congress (ADC): Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi.

- Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): Peter Obi and his running mate, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

INEC sources also indicated that some political parties submitted only their presidential candidates, leaving the vice-presidential slot yet to be filled.

Confusion Over National Assembly Candidates

Despite the successful submissions by many parties, uncertainty reportedly remains in states such as Benue, Kwara and Nasarawa, where disagreements persist over the identities of some National Assembly candidates uploaded to the portal.

ADC Leadership Dispute Deepens

The African Democratic Congress continues to face legal challenges after a Court of Appeal judgment concerning the party's leadership.

Despite the ruling, INEC's portal still lists David Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, raising questions about the legal implications for the party's candidates ahead of the election.

ADC Calls for Investigation

The ADC has also urged security agencies to investigate Nafiu Bala Gombe after he allegedly circulated forged documents claiming he had obtained INEC portal access and uploaded candidates on behalf of the party.

INEC reportedly dismissed the documents as fake, reaffirming that only authorized party officials can access the nomination portal.

Accord Party Awaits Court Verdict

Meanwhile, the Accord Party's presidential ticket remains the subject of ongoing litigation.

Presidential aspirant Gbenga Hashim is asking the court to declare him the party's lawful candidate after alleging that, despite winning the party's primary election, his name was not transmitted to INEC.

The matter has been adjourned, with the court expected to deliver further directions soon.

What Happens Next?

With the nomination portal now closed, INEC will begin verifying submitted candidates and reviewing compliance with the Electoral Act.

Political analysts expect legal disputes, leadership battles and possible court rulings to shape the next phase of preparations for the 2027 Nigerian presidential election, making the coming weeks critical for several political parties.

As Nigeria moves closer to the 2027 polls, adherence to INEC's electoral timetable is expected to play a decisive role in determining which candidates eventually appear on the ballot.