By Ayo Ayodele
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that all 22 registered political parties in the country have successfully submitted their membership registers in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the electoral body said the submissions were completed as of May 8, 2026, two days ahead of the extended deadline granted by the Commission.
INEC explained that the extension followed concerns raised by political parties during a meeting held on March 24, 2026, over the timeline contained in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.
According to the Commission, the original deadline for submission of party membership registers was April 21, 2026, but it was later shifted to May 10, 2026, after consultations with stakeholders and in line with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The Commission noted that the adjustment also aligned with the dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.
INEC stated that political parties were permitted to conduct their primaries within the approved window from April 23 to May 30, 2026, while the submission of membership registers was required not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
The electoral umpire said all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and added that the submitted registers would now undergo the necessary verification processes in accordance with the law.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible and inclusive elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The statement was signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.