May 16, (THEWILL) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that all 22 registered political parties in Nigeria successfully met the deadline for the submission of their membership registers ahead of preparations for the 2027 General Election.
INEC disclosed this in a statement issued by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, noting that the political parties complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 within the extended timeline granted by the commission.
According to the electoral umpire, the successful submission followed concerns earlier raised by political parties during a consultative meeting held on March 24, 2026, over the timelines contained in the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 elections.
“The commission is pleased to inform Nigerians and stakeholders in the electoral process that all registered parties submitted their registers as of May 8, 2026, two days before the extended deadline,” the statement read.
INEC explained that after engagements with political parties, it reviewed and adjusted the deadline for submission of party membership registers from April 21, 2026, to May 10, 2026, to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by parties for their primaries.
The commission further stated that political parties were permitted to conduct their primaries within the approved period from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026, while submission of membership registers was required not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
“Political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries,” the statement added.
INEC noted that the submitted registers would now undergo the necessary verification processes in line with the Electoral Act and other relevant guidelines guiding the conduct of elections in the country.
“The commission wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law,” Haruna stated.
The commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring credible, transparent, and inclusive elections as preparations intensify for the 2027 General Election.
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