The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for the submission of political parties’ membership registers for the 2027 general elections to May 10, 2026.
Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
“The register of party members must be submitted to INEC not later than 21 days before the holding of their respective primaries,” the statement read.
According to the commission, the extension follows concerns raised by political parties during a meeting held on March 24 over the earlier timeline, which had fixed the submission window between April 1 and April 21, 2026.
INEC stated that the adjustment is in line with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires political parties to submit their membership registers not later than 21 days before their primaries.
With the new deadline, political parties can now schedule their primaries within the approved window of April 23 to May 30, 2026, provided they comply with the 21-day submission requirement.
The commission emphasised that strict adherence to the revised timeline is essential for ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process.
INEC had earlier released an updated timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026 and to address concerns about overlaps with the Ramadan period.
Under the revised timetable, Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state houses of assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
Other key activities include continuous voter registration from April 2026 to January 2027, submission of nomination forms between June 27 and July 11, 2026, and publication of the final list of candidates on November 15, 2026.
Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will run from August 19, 2026, to January 14, 2027, while governorship and state assembly campaigns are set for September 9, 2026, to February 4, 2027.
INEC also noted that all political campaigns must end at least 24 hours before election day, in accordance with electoral guidelines.
