The granting of access codes to political parties has not guaranteed their participation in the 2027 elections, it has been learnt from reliable sources.

The access code is a mandatory authentication credential issued by the commission upon request by political parties to enable authorised officials access the online nomination portal and electronically upload the names and personal particulars of candidates for various elective offices.

The INEC portal was opened since the 26th for all the parties to key in to be given codes for the purpose of filing names and details of all their candidates starting with the presidential and National Assembly candidates followed by those of governorship and state House of Assembly candidates.

Though some contend that code is an indication the parties have been reognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to present candidates, other say it is only a temporary nod as things could still change depending on the peculiarities surrounding their cases

Former INEC Director of voter education at INEC, Nick Dazang, who spoke with our correspondent explained that granting of access codes to political parties is in line with Section 29 of the 2026 Electoral Act which mandates that candidates provide affidavits certifying their eligibility to contest, and political parties to submit their documents within a specified time frame.

Dazang explained that granting Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, the access code could mean either that the INEC has obtained the Certified True Copy of the High Court judgement or is acting based on the right of the panel to appeal.

He said in cases where the parties have factions, it is the one that gets the code that is officially recognized by the commission.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and others have been split into factions.

He said for those whose cases are in court, depending the outcome of the cases the determination of the matters could still affect their participation.

Another source who works in INEC in one of the states, said most of the parties that apply would get the codes but that it doesn’t mean they have finally been cleared.

“This is just for them to submit the list of their candidates so that they can continue with the process, he said.

Another source in NEC explained why it granted the NDC access code to its candidate nomination portal despite the subsisting court judgment involving the party.

A senior officer in the commission told Daily Trust on Tuesday that the commission took judicial notice of the party’s appeal against the judgment as well as its application for a stay of execution before issuing the access code.

According to the source, the decision was taken without prejudice to the final determination of the case by the court.

“Senator Seriake, their National Leader, claimed they’ve appealed the ruling and applied for stay of execution. It’s only proper to take judicial notice of their appeal and not deny them the code. Obviously, this is without prejudice to the final outcome of the case” the source said.

The source said the commission considered the appeal and pending application for stay of execution sufficient grounds not to deny the party access to the nomination portal while the matter remains before the courts.

The source further disclosed that, as of Tuesday evening, virtually all registered political parties had collected their access codes from the commission.

“By the way, I’ve just confirmed that all but NNPP have collected their code” the source added.

The access code enables political parties to upload the particulars of their candidates to INEC’s nomination portal in line with the commission’s timetable for forthcoming elections.

The clarification comes amid public interest over the commission’s issuance of portal access codes to political parties following the recent court ruling affecting the NDC. INEC maintained that granting the party access to the portal does not prejudice the final outcome of the pending litigation.

It was gathered that the parties have formally requested and received the codes from the electoral commission, paving the way for them to access INEC’s dedicated nomination portal for the submission of candidates.

They include All Progressives Congress (APC) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) African Democratic Congress (NDC) Accord Party (AP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Labour Party (LP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Action Democratic Party (ADP), and National Democratic Party (NDP).

The development comes as political parties intensify preparations for the next stage of the electoral process following the conduct of their primary elections in line with the timetable released by INEC.

The access code is a mandatory authentication credential issued by the commission upon request by political parties to enable authorised officials access the online nomination portal and electronically upload the names and personal particulars of candidates for various elective offices.

The INEC portal was opened since the 26th for all the parties to key in to be given codes for the purpose of filing names and details of all their candidates starting with the presidential and National Assembly candidates followed by those of governorship and state House of Assembly candidates.

The process of releasing the codes drew public attention when the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) raised alarm that it was not granted in a development suspected to be connected with a court judgment that ordered INEC to deregister the party.

Our correspondent reports that the APC has begun the upload of its candidates on the INEC’s portal after securing access code from the INEC after collecting candidates’ nomination forms from INEC and distributing same to the states.

A chieftain of the party told Daily Trust that successful candidates have been contacted to visit the leadership of the party in their respective states to collect and fill the nomination forms and submit the completed forms to a liaison officer sent to each state for uploading into the INEC porter.

Wike backed PDP faction confirms receipt

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, backed by The Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has received the access code to upload the names of its candidates for the 2027 elections.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed disclosed this to Daily Trust on Tuesday.

The party spokesman said “We have received the access code and since commenced uploading of details on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC portal”.

The PDP has been embroiled in leadership crisis since 2023 when, Senator Samuel Anyanwu as National Secretary stepped aside from the position to contest the governorship election of his home state in Imo.

Anyanwu lost the election to Governor Hope Uzodimma of the All Progressives Congress, APC and immediately staged a comeback to reclaim his seat.

However, in his absence the South East Caucus of the PDP had already nominated a former PDP youth leader, Sunday Udeh-Okoye as his replacement.

Efforts to get the reaction of the faction led by Kabiru Turaki were however not successful.

David Mark-led ADC, too

After days of uncertainty since the commencement of the release of access codes to political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the David Mark led leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC has finally received the codes on behalf of the party.

The code would enable the party upload the lists of its candidates participating in the 2027 elections.

The development was confirmed to Daily Trust by the National Publicity Secretary of the party.

The ADC spokesman Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi said, “We have received the access codes for the various offices from Independent National Electoral Commission, since last week.”

The ADC has been embroiled in leadership crisis since the emergence of the present National Working Committee, NWC of the under the leadership of Senator David Mark.

Two other groups, one led by Nafiu Bala Gombe and another by Dumebi Kachikwu have been laying claims to being the authentic leadership of the party.

Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy National chairman of the party, has faulted the process leading to the emergence of David Mark and other leaders of the party, a development that had remained an issue of litigation.

On Monday, a former vice president and presidential candidate of the ADC had again alleged a fresh plot by some persons to prevent the ADC from participating in the coming election.

NDC begins upload of candidates’ names

National Leader of the NDC, Seriake Dickson, confirmed the development on his X (formerly Twitter) handle.

He stated that the name and credentials of the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi and his own for senatorial ticket, have already been successfully uploaded to the INEC portal.

A source within the party told our correspondent in the early hours of Tuesday that the initial upload was completed late Monday night.

The source added that the names and data of other candidates across the states will be uploaded immediately.

Regarding the party’s ongoing legal battle, the source noted that the party has filed an appeal against the judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State.

He urged supporters to remain calm and continue working toward the real change the country needs.

He also thanked the media for their firm stance on the need to protect democracy in the country.

A Federal High Court in Lokoja had, on Friday, set aside its earlier judgment recognising NDC as a political party.

INEC registered NDC as a party on February 5, 2026, relying on the court judgement of December 10, 2025 for the registration.

However, some of the parties which applied for registration like NDC but did not get it went to court and the judge set aside the previous order, directing all parties to return to the position they occupied before the judgment of December. (Daily Trust)

Update news