The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that all 22 registered political parties in the country have submitted their membership registers in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Friday by the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.
According to the commission, the submissions came after an extension was granted to political parties following complaints over the earlier deadline raised during a stakeholders’ meeting held on March 24, 2026.
INEC stated that all the political parties submitted their membership registers on or before May 8, 2026, which was two days before the revised deadline of May 10.
“The submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election,” the statement said.
The electoral body recalled that, after consultations with political parties, it shifted the deadline for the submission of membership registers from April 21, 2026, to May 10, 2026.
INEC explained that the adjustment was necessary to ensure compliance with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and to accommodate the dates scheduled by political parties for their primaries.
The commission further noted that political parties were permitted to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, while membership registers were expected to be submitted at least 21 days before each party’s primary election.
INEC added that the submitted registers would now be subjected to verification in accordance with the law.
“The Commission remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections,” the statement added.
