NEC Pushes Political Parties’ Membership Submission Deadline To 2027

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially extended the deadline for political parties to submit their registers of members ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to Ireporter Online, the Commission has moved the final submission date from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, disclosed the decision in a statement on Friday. He explained that the extension followed concerns raised during a meeting between the Commission and political parties on 24th March 2026 regarding the original timeline.

Haruna noted that the adjustment aligns the submission period with the 21-day requirement outlined in Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026. Political parties are now permitted to schedule their primaries between 23rd April and 30th May 2026, provided that the register of party members is submitted to INEC at least 21 days before each primary.

The statement emphasized the importance of adhering to the revised timeline to ensure a smooth electoral process, reiterating that the final deadline for submission of the political parties’ registers of members is now 10th May 2026.