By Our Reporter

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will release access codes on Friday, June 26, 2026, to enable political parties to upload details of candidates for the 2027 general elections via its nomination portal.

The commission released the schedule on Thursday, outlining key dates for candidate submissions, withdrawals, campaign commencement, and election days.

According to INEC, parties will begin collecting access codes at INEC Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, June 26, 2026.

The portal will open for Presidential and National Assembly nominations from Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 9:00AM to Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 6:00PM. Parties are to upload Forms EC9 and EC9A-E online within that window.

For Governorship and State Assembly elections, the portal will be open from Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 9:00AM to Saturday, August 8, 2026, at 6:00PM for candidate uploads.

INEC will release the final list of Presidential and National Assembly candidates on Monday, August 15, 2026. The deadline for withdrawal or replacement of those candidates is Monday, August 25, 2026.

Parties must submit hard copies of EC13A-E forms for Presidential and NASS candidates to INEC on or before Saturday, August 29, 2026.

For Governorship and State Assembly, the final list of candidates will be published on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The last day for withdrawal or replacement is Wednesday, September 24, 2026. Parties have until Tuesday, September 26, 2026, to submit EC13 forms.

 Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and will end on Friday, January 15, 2027, at 12:00 midnight. No rallies or advertisements will be permitted after that date.

Campaigns for Governorship and State Assembly elections will begin on Wednesday, December 2, 2026, and close on Thursday, February 4, 2027, at 12:00 midnight.

INEC fixed Saturday, January 16, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on Friday, February 6, 2027.