Why parties are yet to submit names of candidates — INEC

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has explained that political parties are yet to upload the particulars of their candidates on the Commission’s authorised portal because none of them has received the needed codes to do so.

Speaking with Nigerian Tribune on Monday, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the political parties still have time to do it before the deadline set by the commission.

Because of this, he said no political party has submitted the names of their candidates.

In its revised timetable, the INEC had said political parties must submit candidate nominations from June 27 to July 11, 2026.

When asked on phone if the parties had submitted the names of their candidates, the national commissioner said, “None. We haven’t even given them codes. They are to upload the particulars of their candidates. We give them codes. We haven’t issued them the codes yet. The deadline for them to actually begin to submit the names of their candidates for Presidential, Senate, and House of Representatives is this month June and deadline is July 11.

That is, by July 11, they must upload the particulars. For State assemblies, I think it’s July to August. So, we have not even reached the date yet. So, nobody has uploaded anything yet.”

ALSO READ: 8 top digital nomad gadgets redefining remote workspaces in 2026

In an interview with Nigerian Tribune at the weekend, the ADC National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party would publish the list of successful candidates from its primaries “when fully ready” to do so.

Responding to accusations that ADC and other parties including All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were withholding candidates lists, Abdullahi said: “Are parties required to release it publicly or to submit it to INEC? The party will release it. The important thing is: have we submitted it to INEC? Have we met all requirements? That is what matters now. Whether we make it public or not is a different thing. We will make it available when we are ready.”