Abuja, Nigeria – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially extended the deadline for political parties to submit their registers of members ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Okay News reports that the decision followed a consultative meeting between the Commission and political parties on Tuesday, where stakeholders raised concerns regarding the previously scheduled timeline of April 1 to April 21, 2026.
According to a press statement released on Friday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the adjustment was made “to align the 21 days prescribed by Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, with the actual dates fixed by political parties themselves.”
Following the revision, political parties are now officially “free to fix the dates of their primaries within the approved period from the 23rd of April 2026 to the 30th of May 2026.” The electoral body firmly stressed that “it is imperative that parties adhere to this timeline to ensure a smooth electoral process.”
Consequently, the final deadline for the submission of political parties’ membership registers has been pushed back to accommodate the new primary election window. “The register of party members must be submitted to INEC not later than 21 days before the holding of their respective primaries,” the statement clarified, confirming 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.”
