2027 Polls: INEC Portal Sparks Fresh Power Struggles in Political Parties

The commencement of candidate uploads to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal for the 2027 general elections has exposed fresh leadership disputes and internal power struggles across several political parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

While the INEC-recognised leadership of the PDP has confirmed receipt of the commission’s access code and commenced uploading candidates, the rival faction led by Tanimu Turaki (SAN) says it is yet to receive the code but remains confident the courts will resolve the party’s leadership crisis before the submission deadline.

The development follows INEC’s activation of its candidate nomination portal, with political parties required to upload the details of their candidates before the July 18 deadline.

PDP Factions at Odds

PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, confirmed that the party had received all necessary documentation from INEC and had begun uploading candidates’ details.

According to him, the exercise is progressing smoothly and will be completed ahead of schedule.

“I can confirm that the Peoples Democratic Party, under Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, has received INEC’s access code. We have commenced uploading candidates’ details and will conclude the process before the deadline,” he said.

However, a member of the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee, who requested anonymity, said the faction had not received the access code but believed the ongoing court cases would ultimately determine which leadership INEC would recognise.

The faction’s spokesman, Ini Ememobong, also criticised the electoral commission, accusing it of being unfair to opposition parties.

INEC Clarifies Position

Responding to enquiries, INEC said several political parties had already collected their portal access codes since June 26.

National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna reiterated that the commission recognises only the PDP leadership affirmed by the courts.

“I don’t know about any faction in the PDP. We recognise the leadership upheld by the court, and that is the position we will continue to follow,” Haruna said.

He added that the commission’s pre-election and monitoring department was responsible for handling nomination forms and related documentation.

Disputes Spread Across States

The activation of the portal has also intensified disputes in several states.

In Lagos, uncertainty persists within the PDP over the party’s governorship ticket, with rival aspirants Adedeji Doherty and Adetokunbo Pearse laying claim to the nomination.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, however, insisted that the list of candidates that emerged from its legislative primaries remains unchanged despite protests by some aspirants.

In Ondo State, hundreds of APC women staged a protest against what they described as an altered list of House of Representatives candidates, alleging that the published names did not reflect the outcome of the party’s primaries.

The protesters demanded that the National Working Committee respect the wishes of party members and uphold the results of the elections.

However, another group, the Ondo APC Progressive Minds Alliance, defended the National Working Committee’s decision to review the primaries, describing it as a constitutional process aimed at protecting internal democracy.

Parties Begin Candidate Uploads

Across several states, political parties have begun uploading candidates’ names following receipt of INEC access codes.

The APC confirmed that candidates had been uploaded in Edo State, while both the APC and PDP in Jigawa said they had received their portal access codes and were processing nominations.

The PDP in Kogi, Bayelsa and Kwara also confirmed progress in uploading candidates, while the APC in Oyo presented nomination forms to its successful senatorial and House of Representatives candidates.

In Plateau, APC House of Representatives candidate Yusuf Gagdi confirmed receipt of his nomination form, while political parties in Abia also acknowledged receiving INEC access codes but said internal consultations on final candidate lists were still ongoing.

In Benue, however, the distribution of nomination forms has generated fresh controversy, with some candidates alleging delays linked to internal party alignments.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Borno said it was still awaiting its access code, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) confirmed it had received its own and would commence uploads this week.

Race Against Deadline

According to INEC’s timetable, political parties received portal access codes from June 26 and are expected to complete the upload of candidates before the July 18 deadline.

Although many parties say they are on course to meet the deadline, lingering leadership disputes, court cases and internal disagreements in several states continue to cast uncertainty over the final lists that will eventually be submitted to the electoral commission.

The candidate upload process is expected to shape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections, with several parties still battling internal divisions even as preparations for the polls gather momentum.