The Independent National Electoral Commission has adjusted part of the timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, extending the deadline for political parties to submit their official membership registers after concerns were raised by party leaders over the original schedule. The move is aimed at giving parties more flexibility while ensuring compliance with the Electoral Act’s requirement that registers be submitted at least 21 days before primaries.
In a statement issued on Friday, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, said the adjustment followed Tuesday’s consultative meeting between the commission and political parties, where concerns were raised about the timeline for the submission of party registers. He said the revised schedule was intended to align more closely with the law and with the actual dates political parties would choose for their primaries.
Under the revised arrangement, the deadline for submitting membership registers has been extended to May 10, 2026, from the earlier April 21, 2026 cutoff. INEC also said political parties are now free to fix the dates of their primaries within the already approved window of April 23 to May 30, 2026, provided that each party submits its register not later than 21 days before the date of its primary.
The commission stressed that the extension should not be interpreted as a relaxation of legal requirements, but rather as an administrative adjustment designed to support a smoother electoral process. Haruna said it remained imperative for all parties to adhere strictly to the revised timeline to avoid procedural complications in the build-up to the 2027 elections.
The change has already drawn a positive response from the Inter-Party Advisory Council, which said the extension would ease pressure on political parties as they prepare for internal contests and other pre-election activities. The decision also reflects the practical effect of the recently amended Electoral Act, which has introduced stricter rules around party membership documentation and internal party processes.
With party primaries fast approaching, the revised timetable gives political parties a narrower but clearer framework within which to organise their internal processes. For INEC, the adjustment appears designed to balance legal compliance with political reality, while reducing the risk of disputes over procedure as preparations for the 2027 general election gather pace.
