The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced an extension of the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The adjustment came after political parties raised concerns during a meeting with the commission on March 24, 2026, over the earlier timeline, which had scheduled submissions between April 1 and April 21.
According to a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the decision was made to properly align with the Electoral Act.
He explained that the commission needed to ensure the 21-day requirement stated in the law fits with the actual dates chosen by political parties for their primaries.
INEC also clarified that while parties are free to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, they must still comply with the rule requiring submission of their membership registers at least 21 days before their primaries.
With the new adjustment, the final deadline for submitting party membership registers has been moved to May 10, 2026, replacing the earlier April 21 deadline.
The commission stressed that strict adherence to the revised timeline is important to guarantee a smooth, transparent, and credible electoral process.
