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INEC Portal Will Reject Candidate Names That Differ From Monitored Primary Results — National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna Affirms, as Nenadi Usman Faction Emerges Recognised Labour Party Leadership
INEC Portal Will Reject Candidate Names That Differ From Monitored Primary Results — National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna Affirms, as Nenadi Usman Faction Emerges Recognised Labour Party Leadership
…as Commission Confirms Prince Paul Ikonne as APC Candidate for Abia South, Abia State
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that only candidates who emerged from party primaries monitored by its officials will be recognised on its Candidate Nomination Portal, warning that any attempt by political parties to upload names different from those already captured by the commission’s monitors will automatically be rejected.
The commission also confirmed that it is recognising the Labour Party leadership under the Senator Nenadi Usman-led faction, following the prolonged leadership crisis that has divided the party, effectively sidelining the Julius Abure faction in its official dealings relating to candidate nominations and other electoral processes.
INEC made the clarification through its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, who explained that the electoral body had already uploaded the names of candidates who emerged from all monitored party primaries and would compare submissions made by political parties with reports filed by its officials nationwide.
Speaking with pressmen in Abuja, Haruna disclosed that all 21 registered political parties had received their access codes, enabling their designated national officers to upload the names, personal particulars and other required information relating to nominated candidates for the 2027 general elections.
He stressed that the commission had completed its own part of the process by uploading the results of the monitored primaries.
“At our own end, we have uploaded those who emerged from the primaries.
“So, we are waiting for them to come and go to the portal and upload all the forms that they are supposed to upload. And when they do that, we compare what they have brought with the reports from our own monitors, which we have uploaded,” he stated.
Haruna further explained that the configuration of the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal would not permit political parties to submit names that differed from those already recorded by the commission’s field officials.
He, however, noted that the Electoral Act provides avenues for substitutions where necessary, particularly in situations involving withdrawal, death or the successful conclusion of internal appeal processes.
Responding to questions on what would happen if a party attempted to upload a different candidate, the commissioner said:
“The way we have configured our portal is such that if it is different, they won’t even be able to upload a new one. But they have their own appeal processes. At the end of the day, there is even a window for substitution in case whoever is there withdraws or dies. It is there in the Electoral Act….”
He added:
“In the commission, we have to wait until they make their submissions. That is when the commission will sit to see whether to accept or not, of course, depending on how they adhere to their own internal peace mechanisms. Our own role is to make sure they adhere to their own constitutions when we go for monitoring.”
Haruna recalled the legal battle involving former Senate President Ahmed Lawan to illustrate that court judgments could ultimately compel the commission to accept substitutions.
“Obviously, if you remember the case of Ahmed Lawan, former Senate President. Initially, they couldn’t substitute because the person who won the primary was the one our platform. Eventually, it went to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court said we can’t tell them that. Whether it is technicality or not, at the end of the day, we have to substitute the person with Lawan.”
He continued:
“So, what I said is that our portal will not accept any name different from the one that we have. But we can only take a decision when they have made submissions. And the commission now sits over it to see whether their submission is consistent with their own party constitution.
“They probably have to explain why they change the name. Like I said, it is when they do that that we will be able to interrogate and take a final decision.
“Right now, I can’t tell you automatically that if they bring, we will reject. But the way we have configured our portal is such that if what they bring is different from the results that we uploaded, it will reject it. But the final outcome depends on their appeal processes. Each party has their own appeal.”
On the Labour Party leadership dispute, Haruna confirmed that INEC is recognising the Senator Nenadi Usman-led faction for purposes of official engagement with the commission.
The development comes after the Julius Abure faction lost recognition, with the commission acknowledging Senator Nenadi Usman as the recognised leader for official dealings relating to candidate nominations and other electoral processes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The recognition is expected to significantly influence the Labour Party’s preparations for the polls, as only submissions made through the recognised party leadership will be processed in line with the commission’s procedures and relevant legal provisions.
Haruna also confirmed that every registered political party had already been granted access to the nomination portal.
“All of them have received the access codes. I think the last one to receive the access codes was NNPP (last week). All of them have received their access codes. The ball is now in their court.”
On reports that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had written to INEC seeking the replacement of some federal legislative candidates, Haruna said the commission had yet to deliberate on the request.
“The commission has not met to take any decision on that. So, I can’t tell you categorically that we will accept or reject.”
APC Submits Revised Candidate List:
The clarification comes amid widespread attention over the APC’s decision to revise its list of National Assembly candidates following the conclusion of its post-primary appeals process.
Last week, the party dropped former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam and former House of Representatives member Gbenga Elegbeleye from its final list submitted to INEC.
The APC National Working Committee (NWC) also replaced five senatorial aspirants and 19 House of Representatives candidates across Kogi, Abia, Benue, Taraba, Ondo, Niger, Kwara, Kaduna and Ebonyi states.
The revised list was forwarded to INEC through a joint letter signed by APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru.
Titled “Forwarding of Approved List of Senatorial and House of Representatives Candidates,” the letter explained that the changes followed recommendations by the party’s Primary Election Appeal Committee after “a comprehensive review of the nomination process.”
According to the APC, the substitutions complied with the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC guidelines and were aimed at resolving disputes arising from the primaries while strengthening the party’s electoral chances in the affected constituencies.
Among the major changes were Emmanuel Memga Udende replacing Gabriel Suswam in Benue North East, Titus Tartenger Zam replacing Benjamin T. Aber in Benue North West, Olajide Ipinsagbe replacing Gbenga Elegbeleye in Ondo North, Adeniyi Adegbonmire replacing Taiwo Fasorati in Ondo Central, Senator Sunday Karimi replacing Aro Samuel Bamidele in Kogi West, Prince Paul Ikonne replacing Erondu Uchenna Erondu in Abia South, and Shuibu Isa Lau replacing Mohammed Kabir Bello in Taraba North.
The House of Representatives list also witnessed sweeping changes, particularly in Benue and Ondo states.
Nomination Portal Opens as 2027 Election Countdown Begins:
INEC officially commenced the issuance of access codes to political parties for the INEC Candidate Nomination Portal (ICNP) on June 26, 2026, after conducting a two-day training programme for party officials on the operation of the portal.
The nomination exercise began the following day, June 27, 2026, with political parties expected to submit presidential and National Assembly candidates between June 27 and July 11, 2026.
A senior source in the commission disclosed that INEC would publish the names of candidates after political parties conclude the upload process.
Already, the ADC and the NDC have confirmed uploading the names of their presidential candidates and running mates.
Earlier, on June 6, INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan reminded political parties that every submission must be completed within the approved timetable.
“The portal is fully automated and will close automatically at the expiration of the prescribed period,” the INEC chairman warned.
Tension Persists After Party Primaries:
Although political parties concluded their primaries on May 30, uncertainty has continued over delays in issuing certificates of return to successful aspirants.
The uncertainty was further heightened by statements from party leaders suggesting that results announced at collation centres may not represent the final outcome, as party leadership retains the authority to determine the final list of candidates.
APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda maintained that only political parties could announce final results, while Senate President Godswill Akpabio reportedly told colleagues who lost their primaries that “it was not the end of the matter.”
Subsequent meetings involving Akpabio, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and other House leaders fuelled speculation that efforts were underway to accommodate some unsuccessful aspirants.
According to INEC’s revised timetable for the 2027 General Election, Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.
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