All 22 political parties submit membership registers to INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that all 22 registered political parties in Nigeria have successfully submitted their membership registers in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 ahead of the 2027 general election.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the Commission said the submissions were completed following an extension granted to political parties after concerns were raised over the original deadline.

According to the Commission, the extension followed a meeting held with political parties on March 24, 2026, during which stakeholders expressed reservations about the timeline contained in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.

INEC said it subsequently adjusted the deadline for the submission of party membership registers from April 21, 2026, to May 10, 2026, to align with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.

“The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of May 8, 2026, two days before the extended deadline,” the statement said.

The electoral body explained that political parties were permitted to conduct their primaries within the approved period from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026, while party registers were required to be submitted not later than 21 days before their respective primaries.

INEC further stated that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and assured Nigerians that the submitted registers would undergo verification in accordance with the law.

“The Commission remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections,” the statement added.