Nigeria’s two leading opposition parties, the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have dismissed claims by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that they failed to upload the details of their presidential and National Assembly candidates within the stipulated deadline for the 2027 general elections.
The parties maintained that they fully complied with the electoral timetable, insisting that all required candidate information was successfully submitted through INEC’s designated nomination portal before the deadline expired.
Reacting to the electoral body’s position, officials of both parties described INEC’s claim as inaccurate and misleading, arguing that they possess documentary evidence and digital records to prove that the nomination process was completed in accordance with the Electoral Act and the commission’s guidelines.
The development has heightened political tensions ahead of the 2027 elections, with both parties demanding that INEC review its records and correct what they described as an erroneous position capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
The dispute comes as political parties intensify preparations for the next general election, with stakeholders closely monitoring the electoral commission’s handling of candidate nominations amid renewed calls for transparency, fairness and strict adherence to electoral regulations.
Both the Labour Party and the PDP have reaffirmed their readiness to defend the validity of their submissions through all lawful and constitutional means if necessary, insisting that their candidates remain duly nominated for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
