2027 General Elections: INEC Extends Submission of Party Members Register to May 10

The Independent National Electoral Commission has extended the deadline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members for the 2027 General Election to May 10, 2026, in a move aimed at aligning statutory requirements with the schedules of political parties.

The decision was announced in a statement by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, on Friday, March 27, 2026, following a meeting between the Commission and political parties held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, where concerns were raised regarding the earlier timeline for submitting party membership registers. The initial schedule had fixed the submission period from April 1 to April 21, 2026.

In response to the concerns, the Commission agreed to adjust the timeline to comply with the 21-day requirement stipulated in Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, ensuring that the statutory period corresponds with the actual dates political parties choose for their primaries.

According to the revised timetable, political parties are now permitted to conduct their primaries within the approved window of April 23 to May 30, 2026. The Commission emphasized that strict adherence to this timeframe is essential to guarantee a smooth and orderly electoral process.

The statement further clarified that each political party must submit its register of members to the Commission not later than 21 days before the date of its primary election, making May 10, 2026, the new final deadline for submission.