The Independent National Electoral Commission’s portal access for the 2027 elections has sparked fresh power struggles within major political parties, as rival factions and state chapters dispute control of candidate uploads and nomination lists ahead of the deadline.
The PUNCH learnt that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party has commenced the upload of its candidates for the 2027 general elections to the Independent National Electoral Commission portal after receiving INEC’s access code.
PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, in an exclusive interview on Monday, confirmed that the party had received all necessary documents from INEC for submission of its candidates.
However, a member of the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led PDP Interim National Working Committee, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said the faction had yet to receive the INEC access code. He expressed confidence that the courts would resolve the party’s leadership dispute in its favour before the submission deadline.
Although he declined to comment directly on the access code, the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee’s Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, described the commission under Professor Joash Amupitan as the most contentious INEC leadership ahead of an election.
