The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the candidate nomination upload code to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), a major development that has enabled the party to submit the names of its candidates for the 2027 general elections despite the ongoing legal dispute over its registration.
The release of the upload code came shortly after the NDC filed a Notice of Appeal and an application for a stay of execution challenging the recent judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja. The party is seeking to overturn the decision, which it argues was delivered in error and is now before the Court of Appeal for judicial review.
The upload code is a critical component of INEC’s electronic nomination process. It grants political parties secure access to the commission’s Candidate Nomination Portal, through which the names and credentials of candidates contesting various elective offices are submitted. Without the code, a political party cannot complete the statutory nomination process within the timelines prescribed by the Electoral Act and INEC’s election timetable.
Following the release of the code, the NDC immediately commenced the upload of its candidates, including its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, as well as candidates for governorship, the National Assembly, and state legislative elections.
The development is widely seen as a significant administrative step, as it allows the party to continue participating in the electoral process while its appeal remains pending before the courts. Legal analysts note that the release of the upload code does not determine the substantive issues before the judiciary but enables compliance with electoral timelines pending the final resolution of the case.
The controversy stems from a ruling of the Federal High Court in Lokoja, which revisited an earlier judgment recognizing the NDC as a duly registered political party. In response, the party has insisted that the judgment is subject to appeal and that its application for a stay of execution is intended to preserve the status quo until the appellate court delivers its decision.
NDC officials have consistently maintained that the party remains legally entitled to participate in the 2027 electoral process. They argue that its congresses, national convention, and primary elections were conducted in accordance with the law and under the supervision of INEC officials, making the nomination of its candidates valid and enforceable unless set aside by a competent appellate court.
Political observers say INEC’s release of the upload code demonstrates the commission’s commitment to ensuring that parties are not denied the opportunity to comply with electoral deadlines while legal disputes are still being adjudicated. They note that electoral jurisprudence generally seeks to avoid situations where the outcome of litigation could render compliance with statutory timelines impossible.
With the successful submission of its candidates now underway, attention is expected to shift to the Court of Appeal, whose eventual decision will have significant implications for the NDC’s participation in the 2027 general elections. Until then, the party appears set to continue its campaign activities and preparations, while the legal battle over the Lokoja judgment proceeds through the judicial process.
