WorldStage— As the 2027 presidential election draws closer, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has started nationwide public display of the personal particulars, academic credentials, and affidavit documents of presidential and National Assembly candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The exercise, which began across the federation on Saturday, August 1, 2026, marks a critical statutory milestone under the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2026.
By opening up the candidates’ Form EC9 submissions to public inspection, the commission has effectively transferred the burden of preliminary verification to the Nigerian electorate, political opponents, and civil society groups.
According to statements from various INEC state headquarters and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) office, the physical documents are being displayed simultaneously at the commission’s state headquarters and all local government area offices nationwide.
Speaking on behalf of the electoral umpire, the FCT Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Bimbo Oladunjoye, confirmed that the publication strictly complies with Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2026.
The law mandates INEC to publish the personal details and affidavits of all nominated flagbearers within a specified timeframe after the closure of the political party nomination portals.
“This exercise is intended to promote absolute transparency in our democratic process.”
Oladunjoye said: “It provides members of the public with an unfettered opportunity to scrutinize the claims, age declarations, and academic certificates submitted by those seeking the highest offices in the land.
“The portal for national nominations closed following a brief extension to allow political parties to sort out their internal primaries. Now that the documents are public, stakeholders are expected to meticulously check for any discrepancies, false declarations, or forged documentation.”
Under the provisions of the Electoral Act, any citizen who detects false claims in the displayed affidavits is empowered to seek legal redress in a court of law to challenge the candidate’s eligibility.
The publication has already drawn intense interest from the public.
Observers have flocked to INEC offices to view the files of prominent contenders, including incumbent President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and his running mate, Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Documents sighted at the display centers include academic transcripts, degrees, and statutory declarations, all of which will undergo deep public vetting in the coming days.
However, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, clarified that this display does not constitute the final list of candidates, adding that olitical parties still have a legal window until August 22, 2026, to withdraw or substitute their nominated candidates.
The commission is scheduled to publish the definitive, final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates on September 12, 2026, just weeks after the official campaign window opens on August 19, 2026.
Meanwhile, the public display for governorship and State House of Assembly candidates is scheduled to take place later in the month on August 29, 2026.
As the country inches closer to the general elections, the electoral body has reiterated that ensuring the integrity of the vote is a collective national responsibility, urging all Nigerians to actively participate in this vetting process to safeguard the country’s democracy.
