2027 candidates: Fresh crisis hits parties as INEC portal opens

The portal access of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 elections has ignited new power struggles among major political parties, as competing factions and state chapters contest control over candidate uploads and nomination lists prior to the deadline.

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, supported by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has begun uploading its candidates for the 2027 general elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission portal after obtaining the access code from INEC.

Umar Bature, the National Organising Secretary of the PDP, confirmed in an exclusive interview on Monday that the party had received all required documents from INEC for the submission of its candidates.

However, a member of the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led PDP Interim National Working Committee, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss the issue, stated that their faction had not yet received the INEC access code. He expressed optimism that the courts would adjudicate the party’s leadership conflict in their favor before the submission deadline.

While he refrained from commenting directly on the access code, Ini Ememobong, the Publicity Secretary of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, characterized the commission under Professor Joash Amupitan as the most contentious INEC leadership in the lead-up to an election.

On April 30, the Supreme Court delivered a split 3–2 judgment that invalidated the PDP National Convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, which resulted in the establishment of the Turaki leadership and was backed by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde.

In the aftermath of the ruling, the party’s Board of Trustees, chaired by Adolphus Wabara, reconstituted Turaki and others as an Interim National Working Committee.

Since that time, the interim leadership has functioned alongside the INEC-recognized faction associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

INEC responds

In response to an inquiry from one of our correspondents, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stated that numerous political parties have started to collect their access codes in preparation for the forthcoming electoral activities. Furthermore, INEC reiterated that it only acknowledges the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that has been endorsed by the court.

During a discussion on this matter, INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna mentioned on Monday that political parties have been acquiring their nomination codes since June 26.

"A significant number of political parties have already collected their codes since June 26. For example, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has obtained theirs. Regarding the National Democratic Coalition (NDC), I will need to verify; I am uncertain," he stated.

When addressing inquiries about the PDP, Haruna clarified that the commission only recognizes the faction that has been validated by the court.

"I am not aware of any factions within the PDP. We only recognize the faction that the court has instructed us to acknowledge. We adhere to the Supreme Court's ruling," he remarked.

Regarding the nomination forms, the INEC commissioner noted that he could not provide comprehensive details as this matter falls under a different department.

"Concerning the nomination forms, I am not privy to which committee they were submitted to, as I do not belong to the committee responsible for that area. It is the pre-election and monitoring department that manages that aspect," he explained.

Wike vs Turaki

While the INEC-recognized leadership, headed by Abdulrahman Mohammed and National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, oversaw the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms, the Turaki faction also distributed forms to aspirants despite lacking INEC recognition and oversight.

According to INEC’s timetable for 2027, political parties were scheduled to receive portal access codes for candidate uploads on June 26, with a submission deadline set for July 18.

Bature, confirming the receipt of the code, stated that the PDP has commenced the process of uploading candidates.

He remarked, "I can confirm that the Peoples Democratic Party, under the leadership of Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has received INEC’s access code. We have begun uploading the details of our candidates.

"We have successfully obtained all required documentation from INEC to fulfill the prerequisites for the 2027 general elections. The uploading process is currently underway and is expected to be finalized by July 11, 2027.

"The party is well-organized, our candidates are in preparation, and we are assured of our success."

A representative from the Turaki-led faction indicated that they have not yet received the access code but remain optimistic as they await court rulings.

He stated, "To the best of my knowledge, we have not received the access code. Nevertheless, there are ongoing legal matters.

"It is not a race to see who obtains it first, but rather the ultimate court ruling. INEC will adhere to the court's decision. We are confident that justice will be served."

In response, Ememobong accused INEC, under Professor Amupitan, of being biased against opposition parties.

He remarked, "Our perspective is that history will remember Amupitan as the most controversial INEC chairman prior to an election. He has not been equitable not only to the PDP but also to other opposition parties.

"Given the level of disrepute he has garnered, no opposition party can assert that it has more than 50 percent confidence in his capability to conduct free and fair elections.

"However, we remain optimistic and will persist in our engagement within the democratic framework."

Uncertainty in Lagos

In the Lagos State branch of the PDP, uncertainty continues as Adedeji Doherty and Adetokunbo Pearse both assert their claim to the party's governorship nomination.

Some party leaders expressed on Monday that despite the ongoing conflict, they are hopeful that their names, along with those of their respective candidates for legislative positions at both state and national levels, will be included in the final list to be published by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 elections.

It has been reported that candidates associated with Pearse are scheduled to meet with PDP leader Bode George on Wednesday to seek clarification regarding the status of their candidacies in anticipation of the elections.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State chapter of the APC has maintained that the list of candidates that emerged from its legislative primaries remains unchanged despite protests by aggrieved aspirants.

Despite the disputes surrounding the primaries, the party leadership maintained that the list of candidates for the House of Representatives and the Lagos State House of Assembly, published in The Nation newspaper on Monday, May 25, 2026, is still valid.

While the party awaits the final list from its national leadership, the Lagos APC stated that it is not aware of any modifications to the previously published list.

Recently, the chairman of Lagos APC, Cornelius Ojelabi, remarked that the state chapter simply released the results of the primaries conducted by a committee established by the party’s national headquarters, emphasizing that any changes would originate from the national leadership following a review of the appeal committee’s report.

State chapters

Peter Uwadiae-Igbinigie, the Publicity Secretary of Edo State APC, announced that the state has uploaded its candidates' names to the INEC portal.

He mentioned that the APC National Appeals Committee reviewed petitions from dissatisfied members and approved the candidates uploaded to the portal.

He stated, “For the Senate, the ticket for Edo South has been awarded to Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama, while Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu was not selected. In Edo Central, Joe Ikpea, who succeeded Governor Monday Okpebholo, was approved and uploaded, while the former governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, will represent the party for Edo North.

“For the House of Representatives, Edo South has four candidates: Billy Osawaru, Felix Igbinovia, Paddy Iyamu, and Gabrielle Igbinedion are included in the list. In Edo Central, Dr. Esegbe and Hon. Henry Okogie were approved, while Andrew Ijegbai, Oladele Bankole-Balogun, and Sunny Dekeri also made the list.”

He noted that the governor and several state party officials traveled to Abuja over the weekend for the upload process.

He further added that he does not anticipate any additional complaints, as the appeal committee has already resolved the issues raised by aspirants during the primaries.

States

In Kaduna State, a chieftain of the PDP, Danjuma Sarki, declared his bid to represent Zonkwa State Constituency in the 2027 House of Assembly elections after obtaining the party’s nomination form.

Sarki confirmed in a telephone interview that he had collected, completed and submitted the form for onward transmission to INEC.

He said, “Yes, I have received the nomination form for Zonkwa Constituency. We have filled and submitted it. The party will upload the documents to the INEC portal.”