Ahead of the upcoming 2027 general elections, all 22 registered political parties in Nigeria have successfully hit a crucial regulatory milestone by submitting their comprehensive membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission. This development satisfies a major statutory requirement under the Electoral Act 2026, signaling that the political machinery for the next election cycle is now officially in motion.
The successful compliance follows a brief period of tension and strategic negotiations. According to a statement released by Mohammed Haruna, the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the commission agreed to push back the original deadline after political leaders raised logistical concerns. Reports reveal that during a high-stakes stakeholder meeting on March 24, various party representatives voiced anxieties that the initial timeline tucked into the 2027 Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities was simply too tight to manage effectively.
Recognizing the validity of these concerns, the electoral umpire adjusted the submission window, shifting the final deadline from April 21 to May 10. This deliberate extension was designed to seamlessly harmonize with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates that party registers must be firmly in the commission’s hands at least 21 days before any primary elections are conducted.
As it turned out, the extra breathing room was exactly what the parties needed. Rather than racing against the clock at the final hour, every single one of the 22 political parties beat the adjusted deadline, wrapping up their submissions by May 8—two full days ahead of schedule.
With the membership databases now secure, the stage is set for the internal party primaries, which are scheduled to run through a designated window closing on May 30. By locking in these registers early, INEC ensures a more transparent framework for the primaries, minimizing the standard controversies over voter eligibility that often plague internal party democracy.
