The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable for the February 20, 2027 general elections, leaving many political parties struggling to catch up in preparation for the polls. There are concerns that the date may clash with Ramadan, potentially prompting calls to move the elections to January 2027 to avoid low voter turnout.
Findings show that only five parties—the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Social Democratic Party (SDP)—currently have the national structures and organisational depth to field candidates across the country. The remaining sixteen registered parties face weak organisation, leadership disputes, funding shortages, and unresolved legal battles, limiting their nationwide competitiveness.
APC Leading the Charge
The ruling APC has been in “election mode” for months, conducting aggressive membership drives, strategic recruitment of opposition governors, and building a strong grassroots network. The party now controls 29 governorships, giving it significant influence over state resources and local operations.
The APC has also modernized its internal machinery, implementing a nationwide electronic membership registration system that has recorded over 10 million members. Additionally, the party established The Progressive Institute (TPI) to train cadres and formulate policies, ensuring operations are guided by strategy and expertise.
Opposition Parties Face Challenges
The PDP continues to struggle with leadership disputes and factional rifts, though party insiders remain confident about nationwide participation. Efforts are underway to resolve internal conflicts ahead of party primaries scheduled between May 22 and June 20, 2026.
Similarly, the Labour Party is intensifying internal reorganisation following leadership disputes, focusing on membership drives, structural audits, and nationwide rebuilding. The party has reaffirmed the recognition of Nenadi Usman as national chairman, though rival factions have yet to fully accept the leadership settlement.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) welcomed the election timetable but raised concerns over transparency and the deployment of electronic results transmission systems.
The NNPP, led by Rabiu Kwankwaso, and the SDP, under leaders such as Mulikat Akande-Adeola, have also expressed readiness to compete nationwide, emphasizing strategic alliances, experienced candidates, and strengthened party structures.
Smaller Parties Struggle to Keep Up
Sixteen other registered parties—including APGA, AAC, ADP, Accord, Action Alliance, Boot Party, NRM, PRP, YPP, ZLP, YP, DLA, NDC, APP, and APM—face structural weaknesses, limited regional influence, and ongoing leadership disputes that could hinder their participation in primaries and nationwide contests.
Timeline Forces Rapid Realignments
With primaries scheduled for mid-2026 and campaigns beginning in September 2026, parties are under pressure to finalise internal structures, recruit candidates, and resolve legal disputes. The timetable has effectively become a test of organisational capacity, distinguishing parties with nationwide networks from those with limited operational presence.
The next few months are expected to determine whether smaller parties can reorganise quickly enough to remain competitive, or whether the 2027 elections will once again be dominated by a handful of well-established political platforms.
