The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that all 22 registered political parties in Nigeria have successfully submitted their membership registers ahead of the 2027 general election.
According to a press statement released on Friday by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, the development marks full compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The successful submission followed an extension previously granted by the commission. During a consultative meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, political parties had raised concerns regarding the initial submission timelines outlined in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.
In response to these concerns, INEC issued a statement on March 27, 2026, adjusting the submission deadline from April 21, 2026, to May 10, 2026.
The electoral umpire noted that this adjustment was necessary to align with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and to accommodate the actual dates fixed by the political parties for their primary elections.
Under the current guidelines, political parties are permitted to conduct their primaries between April 23, 2026, and May 30, 2026. The law mandates that the membership register must be submitted to the commission no later than 21 days before the conduct of each party’s respective primary.
INEC expressed satisfaction with the political parties’ cooperation, noting that all 22 entities beat the extended deadline by submitting their documents by May 8, 2026.
Moving forward, the commission stated that it will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in strict accordance with the law.
INEC also reiterated its ongoing commitment to delivering a free, fair, credible, and inclusive electoral process for all Nigerians.
