By James Adamu
The National Democratic Coalition (NDC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of denying it the access code required to upload the names of its candidates to the commission’s nomination portal .
The allegation comes as the party faces an existential threat: a Federal High Court judgment has ordered INEC to deregister the NDC, throwing its legal status into doubt at a critical moment ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on the development, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, stated that the party approached INEC to obtain the access credentials needed to complete the mandatory online submission of candidates but was unable to secure them .
“We approached INEC to collect the access code to upload the names of our candidates to the INEC portal. They told us that they will get back to us,” Director said .
He insisted that the party’s inability to upload its candidates should not be interpreted as a failure on its part, arguing that the delay resulted from the commission’s refusal to provide the necessary access credentials.
Director disclosed that the party would return to INEC to make another request while simultaneously pursuing legal action to suspend enforcement of the deregistration order .
“We will go back there by tomorrow. I believe by tomorrow we must have filed a stay of execution in court,” he stated .
The party’s legal team has reportedly commenced the process of filing a stay of execution to prevent immediate implementation of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal .
The lockout poses a severe threat to the political ambitions of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi and former Kano Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, who were recently ratified as the NDC’s presidential and vice-presidential flagbearers .
The crisis hits at a critical juncture, as INEC recently shifted the portal access release date from June 26 to Monday, June 29, to streamline submissions for eligible parties . Under the current electoral timetable, the window for submitting presidential and National Assembly nominations runs from June 27 to July 11, 2026
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