All 22 registered parties submit membership registers to INEC.

By Emmanuel Okogba

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that all 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers, fulfilling the requirements set out in the Electoral Act 2026.

INEC confirmed in a statement released on Friday that the parties met the extended deadline of 10 May 2026, with all submissions finalized on 8 May.

The statement, signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, explained that the commission granted the extension after parties expressed concerns during a meeting on 24 March 2026. The original deadline of 21 April was moved to 10 May to allow sufficient time for compiling registers and conducting primaries.

Political parties are scheduled to hold their primaries between 23 April and 30 May 2026, and membership registers must be submitted at least 21 days before each party’s primary.

INEC said the submitted registers will now undergo verification in accordance with the law.

The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections in 2027.

The statement reads, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) wishes to inform Nigerians and stakeholders in the electoral process that all 22 registered political parties have successfully submitted their membership registers to the Commission in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026. The submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election. The Commission is pleased to note that all registered parties submitted their registers as of 8th May 2026, two days before the extended deadline.”

“Following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a press statement issued on the 27th of March 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from 21st April 2026 to 10th May 2026 to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries. Political parties were accordingly allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from 23rd April 2026 to 30th May 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.”

“INEC wishes to state that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and will subject the submitted registers to the necessary verification processes in line with the law. The Commission remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.”

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