The exercise is being carried out in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and also matches the timeline contained in INEC’s revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the next general polls. The presidential election is scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the commission says it is working to meet every legal deadline ahead of that date.
At the INEC State Head Office in Abuja, officials mounted the particulars of candidates on public display boards. The same process was replicated simultaneously at the six Area Council offices within the FCT. The aim, according to the commission, is to open the nomination process to public scrutiny so that citizens and stakeholders can verify the credentials and other information submitted by those seeking elective office.
Speaking during the display, the Administrative Secretary of the FCT, Bimbo Oladunjoye, represented the Resident Electoral Commissioner. She explained that the publication is not optional but a direct requirement of the law. Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2026 mandates INEC to display the personal particulars, affidavits and other supporting documents of candidates in the constituencies where they intend to contest. By doing this, the commission is giving the public a window to raise objections where there are concerns about eligibility, age, education, or any other statutory requirement.
Oladunjoye noted that the display covers candidates for the presidency as well as those seeking seats in the National Assembly from the FCT. Because the exercise is happening at once in the state office and all six area council offices, residents do not have to travel long distances to access the information. The idea is to make the process as accessible as possible.
She described the public display as a critical part of the electoral cycle. Beyond being a legal formality, it serves as a transparency mechanism that strengthens accountability and builds trust in the system. When voters, political parties, civil society groups, and the media are able to see who is running and what they have declared, it creates room for early corrections and discourages the filing of false information.
The Administrative Secretary urged Nigerians in the FCT to take the opportunity seriously. She called on political parties to cross-check the details of their own nominees, for civil society organisations to monitor compliance, and for journalists to report any discrepancies they observe. According to her, public participation at this stage helps INEC deliver a cleaner voter list and a more credible election.
She added that the commission is proceeding according to plan and will continue to implement each phase of the 2027 election calendar without deviation. Every activity, she said, will be guided by the provisions of the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, and INEC’s own Regulations and Guidelines.
The display will remain in place for the period stipulated by law, after which the commission will collate observations and move to the next steps in candidate processing. For now, INEC maintains that keeping the process open is one way to ensure that the 2027 elections are conducted with integrity and that only qualified candidates appear on the ballot.
