The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the submission of political parties’ membership registers to May 10, 2026, from April 21, 2026, as originally stated in the revised timetable.
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, announced this in a statement released on Friday.
In the statement titled “Re: Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for 2027 General Election,” Haruna reminded political parties that their membership registers must be submitted to INEC no later than 21 days before their respective primaries.
The statement read, “At the meeting of the Commission with political parties on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, concerns were raised about the timeline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members under the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election, which was originally fixed from April 1 to April 21, 2026.
“The Commission, at the meeting, agreed to adjust the submission period to align the 21 days prescribed by Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, with the actual dates fixed by political parties.
“Political parties are accordingly informed that they are free to fix the dates of their primaries within the approved period from April 23 to May 30, 2026. Parties must adhere to this timeline to ensure a smooth electoral process.
“The register of party members must be submitted to INEC no later than 21 days before the holding of their respective primaries. This means that the final deadline for submission is now May 10, 2026, instead of April 21, 2026.”
It will be recalled that INEC revised the timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
Under the new schedule, Presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on January 16, 2027, governorship and State House of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027
Both dates were moved earlier to avoid a clash with the Ramadan fasting period.
Party primaries are scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026, while political parties must submit candidate nominations from June 27 to July 11, 2026.
Campaigns for national elections will begin on August 19, 2026, and the voter register will be published by December 15, 2026.
