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 elections.
The decision was announced in Abuja in a statement issued by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
INEC said the adjustment followed concerns raised by political parties during a meeting held on March 24, 2026, regarding the earlier timeline for submitting their membership registers.
Under the initial schedule, political parties were expected to submit their membership registers between April 1 and April 21, 2026. However, the commission has now revised the timeline to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly the requirement that membership registers must be submitted at least 21 days before party primaries.
According to INEC, political parties are now permitted to conduct their primaries within a window spanning April 23 to May 30, 2026, giving parties more flexibility to organise their internal processes.
The commission stated that the adjustment aligns the 21-day legal requirement in Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act with the actual primary dates to be fixed by the political parties.
INEC also clarified that the new final deadline for the submission of political parties’ membership registers is now May 10, 2026, instead of the earlier deadline of April 21, 2026.
The electoral body emphasised that strict adherence to the revised timetable is critical to ensuring a smooth electoral process and warned political parties to comply with the new schedule.
INEC reiterated its commitment to working with political parties to ensure a credible, transparent, and well-organised electoral process as Nigeria begins early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
