The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that all 22 registered political parties in Nigeria have successfully submitted their membership registers in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The confirmation was contained in a statement released on Friday by Mohammed Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to the commission, the submission process was concluded on May 8, two days before the extended deadline approved by the electoral body.
INEC explained that the deadline extension became necessary after political parties raised concerns over the initial submission timeline during a consultative meeting held on March 24.
Originally, the commission had fixed April 21 as the closing date for the submission of membership registers as contained in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.
However, after further engagement with political parties, INEC announced on March 27 that the deadline would be extended to May 10, 2026.
The commission stated that the adjustment was made to ensure compliance with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and to accommodate the various dates selected by political parties for their primary elections.
Under the revised election timetable, political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
The law requires each political party to submit its membership register to the commission at least 21 days before the date fixed for its primary election.
INEC confirmed that all registered parties met the requirement within the approved timeframe.
“The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline,” the statement read.
The electoral umpire added that the submitted registers would now be subjected to the necessary verification processes in line with the law.
INEC also reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections across the country.
As outlined in the commission’s official timetable for the 2027 general elections, presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
What You Should Know
INEC’s confirmation that all 22 political parties submitted their membership registers marks a key milestone in preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
This compliance is a legal requirement under the Electoral Act 2026 and ensures parties are eligible to proceed with their primary elections.
The verification stage is now crucial, as it allows INEC to validate the authenticity of party records before the next phases of the electoral process.
The development also reflects improved coordination between the electoral commission and political parties, setting the stage for what INEC says will be a transparent, credible and inclusive election cycle across Nigeria.
