The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members ahead of the 2027 General Election, following concerns raised by stakeholders over the earlier timeline.
The announcement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, on Friday.
The Commission disclosed that the decision was reached during its meeting with political parties held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, where concerns were expressed about the original submission window of April 1 to April 21, 2026, as contained in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.
According to INEC, the adjustment became necessary to ensure compliance with the 21-day notice period prescribed by Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, and to align the submission of party membership registers with the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
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INEC stated that political parties are now at liberty to schedule their primaries within the approved period of April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026.
The Commission stressed that parties must submit their registers of members not later than 21 days before the date of their respective primaries, warning that strict adherence to the timeline is crucial for the smooth conduct of the electoral process.
With the adjustment, the final deadline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members has now been extended to May 10, 2026, instead of the earlier deadline of April 21, 2026.
