The opening of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal for political parties to upload candidates’ details for the 2027 general election has triggered anxiety among many aspirants awaiting confirmation of their status.
For several contestants who participated in party primaries, especially those seeking seats in the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, the development has generated uncertainty as many political parties are yet to officially release the names of successful candidates.
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Unlike previous election cycles where victorious aspirants received certificates of return and completed INEC nomination documents before party submission, this year’s process has left many candidates uncertain about their fate.
So far, the Labour Party (LP) is among the few parties to publicly announce its candidates.
The party disclosed that 1,211 candidates had been approved to contest under its platform in the 2027 elections.
According to the party, the list includes one presidential candidate, 28 governorship candidates, 99 senatorial candidates, 307 House of Representatives candidates and 776 State House of Assembly candidates.
The National Executive Committee reportedly ratified the nominations on June 28.
The delay by other major parties in publishing their candidates’ lists has heightened concerns among aspirants.
Earlier reports indicated growing dissatisfaction within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), with some serving federal lawmakers reportedly failing to secure return tickets.
Speaking during the inauguration of the APC National Campaign Council for the Ekiti governorship election, Senate President Godswill Akpabio appealed to party leaders to accommodate more members.
“The party is supreme. I’m only pleading with the party to ensure that when they release their final list, they include all of us. Some of my people have hypertension,” Akpabio said.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka acknowledged concerns surrounding the release of candidate lists, noting that making the names public internally could create challenges for the party.
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He suggested that aspirants should instead confirm their status through INEC’s platform once submissions are completed.
Similar concerns have also emerged within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), where some aspirants accused party officials of influencing outcomes during the primary process.
In the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the situation appears more complex, with both the Nyesom Wike and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki factions reportedly issuing certificates of return to candidates, although only the Wike-led faction currently enjoys recognition by INEC.
Political observers believe some parties may be withholding candidate lists to reduce possible reactions and internal disputes.
One aspirant, who spoke anonymously, blamed the uncertainty on the framework of the Electoral Act, 2026 and argued that direct primaries create room for disputes.
“The primaries are conducted in different constituencies, unlike indirect primaries where delegates gather in one location to vote.
“You know the number of delegates and votes from the beginning, making it difficult to inflate figures in favour of a preferred aspirant.
While manipulation is still possible, the figures can be challenged before the appeal committee.
“That is not the case with direct primaries. That is why strange figures often emerge during counting, and there is no way to verify them because no actual votes were cast,” the source said.
A former minister and senator from Lagos State also criticised the conduct of APC primaries in some states, alleging that party leaders determined outcomes outside the voting process.
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“There was no election anywhere. What happened was a charade. I know someone who scored 37,000 votes in the primaries, yet the person declared winner was credited with only 2,000 votes.
“So, what do you call that? The adoption of consensus and direct primaries has reversed the gains made in previous electoral processes. As things stand, it is only when you see your name on INEC’s website that you can truly say you contested or won,” the former minister stated.
