The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers as part of preparations for the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued on Friday, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC national commissioner and chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said the adjustment followed concerns raised by political parties regarding the initial timeline contained in the revised timetable and schedule of activities.
According to the commission, the original submission window was fixed from April 1 to April 21, 2026. However, during a consultative meeting between INEC and political parties on March 24, 2026, stakeholders expressed reservations about the feasibility of meeting the deadline.
INEC said it subsequently agreed to review the schedule to ensure compliance with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which prescribes that political parties must submit their membership registers not later than 21 days before the conduct of their primaries.
“At the meeting of the Commission with the Political Parties on Tuesday, 24th March 2026, concerns were raised on the timeline for the submission of Political Parties’ Registers of Members under the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election,” the statement read.
“The Commission, at the said meeting, agreed to adjust the period for the submission of the Political Parties’ Registers of Members to align the 21 days prescribed by Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, with the actual dates fixed by political parties themselves.”
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Under the revised arrangement, political parties are now permitted to determine the specific dates for their primaries within the approved window of April 23 to May 30, 2026.
Haruna emphasised that strict adherence to the updated timeline is critical to ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process. He reiterated that parties must forward their membership registers to INEC no later than 21 days before their respective primaries.
“This means that the final deadline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members is extended to 10th May 2026, from the 21st April 2026 originally contained in the revised timetable,” he added.
The extension is expected to give political parties additional time to update and harmonise their membership records, while enabling INEC to maintain compliance with statutory provisions as preparations intensify for the 2027 polls.