2027 candidates: Fresh crisis hits parties as INEC portal opens

Nigeria's political landscape is experiencing renewed friction as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opens its portal for the 2027 general elections. This development has triggered fresh power struggles within major political parties, particularly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where rival factions and state chapters are locked in disputes over control of candidate uploads and nomination lists ahead of the submission deadline.

The PUNCH has learned that a faction of the PDP, reportedly backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has begun uploading its candidates for the 2027 elections after obtaining the necessary access code from INEC. Umar Bature, the PDP National Organising Secretary, confirmed the party had received the required documents. However, a member of the Tanimu Turaki (SAN)-led PDP Interim National Working Committee, speaking anonymously, stated that their faction had not yet received the INEC access code. This individual expressed confidence that the courts would resolve the party's leadership dispute in their favor before the deadline.

“

I don’t know about any faction in the PDP. It is the one the court said we should recognise that we recognise. The Supreme Court’s position is what we follow.

Adding to the complexity, the Turaki-led Interim National Working Committee's Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, described the current INEC leadership, under Professor Joash Amupitan, as the most contentious in the lead-up to an election. This situation stems from a Supreme Court ruling on April 30, which invalidated the PDP National Convention held in November 2025 that produced the Turaki leadership, supported by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. Consequently, the party's Board of Trustees reconstituted Turaki and others into an Interim National Working Committee, which has since operated alongside the INEC-recognized faction aligned with Wike.

INEC has clarified its position, with National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna confirming that several political parties have been collecting their nomination access codes since June 26. He emphasized that the commission strictly adheres to court rulings regarding party leadership recognition. "I don’t know about any faction in the PDP. It is the one the court said we should recognise that we recognise. The Supreme Court’s position is what we follow," Haruna stated, indicating that only the faction upheld by the court is officially recognized.

“

Quite a number of political parties since June 26 have collected their codes already. I know the SDP, for instance, has collected. As for NDC, I will have to confirm; I am not sure.