Door Slammed Shut: INEC Closes 2027 Portal as Three Major Factions Miss Deadline

(By The Political Razzmatazz Editorial Team | 2027 Election Updates)

The countdown to the 2027 General Elections has officially moved from the planning phase to the battlefield.

After extending the submission window to July 14, 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially closed its candidate nomination portal for the 2027 presidential race. While the major political heavyweights successfully secured their spots on the ballot, the final hours of the deadline brought massive casualties for several embattled factions.

Here is the complete breakdown of who is in, who is out, and the legal chaos still threatening the ballot.

The Heavyweights Are Locked In

For the parties with solid, disciplined structures, the INEC deadline was a seamless process. The major contenders have officially uploaded the names of their presidential and vice-presidential candidates, setting the stage for what promises to be the most fiercely contested election in Nigerian history:

• Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): The much-talked-about “Third Force” successfully uploaded its powerhouse ticket of Peter Obi and Engr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, cementing their readiness for the 2027 race.
• All Progressives Congress (APC): The ruling party officially retained its incumbent ticket, submitting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
• African Democratic Congress (ADC): The ADC uploaded the veteran ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi.

The Casualties: Three Factions Locked Out

While the heavyweights celebrated, internal party crises proved fatal for others. According to official INEC sources, three specific political entities failed to upload their presidential candidates before the portal permanently shut down:

1. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): The party failed to resolve its internal logistics in time.
2. The Nyesom Wike-led PDP Faction: The prolonged battle for the soul of the PDP resulted in the Wike faction failing to secure a portal upload.
3. The Nenadi Usman-led Labour Party Faction: The deep fractures within the Labour Party left the Nenadi Usman faction out in the cold.

Without their candidates uploaded to the INEC portal, these factions effectively forfeit their right to contest the presidency in 2027 unless a miraculous (and highly unlikely) court order forces INEC to reopen the system.

Lingering Chaos and Legal Battles

Even for parties that beat the deadline, the dust has not fully settled.

• Incomplete Tickets: Several smaller parties managed to upload their presidential candidates but failed to submit running mates, a move that could lead to disqualification.
• National Assembly Gaps: There is widespread uncertainty over National Assembly candidate submissions in heavily contested states like Benue, Kwara, and Nasarawa.
• The ADC & Accord Party Dilemma: Despite the Court of Appeal ruling on the ADC leadership tussle, the INEC portal still officially recognizes David Mark as the party’s National Chairman. Meanwhile, the Accord Party is nervously awaiting a court decision regarding the nomination of its presidential candidate, Olawepo Gbenga-Hashim.

The portal may be closed, but the courtroom battles are just beginning.

Over to You

With the Wike-led PDP faction and the Nenadi Usman LP faction locked out of the presidential race, where do you think their massive support bases will migrate?

Will they throw their weight behind the ruling APC, or will they align with the Obi/Kwankwaso ticket under the NDC? Share your predictions in the comments below!