NDC Accuses INEC Of Blocking The Uploading Of Candidates’ Names To Portal

By Ayodele Oni

Still seeking a way out of the Court judgment ordering its deregistration, 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 races to stop the enforcement of a Federal High Court judgment ordering its deregistration, raising new questions about its participation in future elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shifted the date for the release of the access code to political parties to Monday, June 29, to enable them to upload the names of their nominated candidates for the 2027 general election.

INEC had planned to release the access code on Friday, June 26, but sources from the commission and political parties said the release was shifted to Monday to ensure a smooth uploading of the access code.

Speaking on the development, the NDC’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, stated that the party visited INEC to obtain the access credentials needed to complete the mandatory online submission of its candidates.

He alleged that officials of the commission told the party they would “get back” to them, leaving it unable to complete the upload before the court’s deregistration order took effect.

Director maintained that the party’s failure to upload its candidates was not due to any fault of the NDC, but was caused by its inability to obtain the required access code from INEC.

He disclosed that the party would return to the commission to make another request, while simultaneously pursuing legal action to suspend the enforcement of the court judgment.

“We will go back there by tomorrow. I believe by tomorrow we must have filed a stay of execution in court,” he said.

According to the NDC spokesperson, the party’s legal team has already commenced the process of filing an application for a stay of execution to prevent the immediate implementation of the deregistration order pending the determination of its appeal.

Until such an application is granted by the court, the judgment directing the party’s deregistration remains in force.