Juliet Ezeh
The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that all 22 registered political parties in Nigeria have submitted their membership registers in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
In a statement issued on May 15, 2026, the commission said the submissions were completed as of May 8, 2026, two days before the extended deadline of May 10.
The commission explained that the deadline was earlier shifted following concerns raised by political parties over the timeline contained in the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
According to the statement, the initial deadline for submission was April 21, 2026. However, after a meeting with political parties held on March 24, 2026, the commission granted an extension to allow more time for compliance.
The commission subsequently announced the new deadline on March 27, 2026, in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the schedule for party primaries.
It stated that political parties were allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026. The law requires that party membership registers be submitted not later than 21 days before the conduct of primaries.
The commission noted that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe.
It added that the submitted registers would be subjected to verification in accordance with the law.
The commission reiterated its commitment to the conduct of free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections.
It also emphasized that the submission of membership registers is part of the preparations for the 2027 general elections and a requirement under the Electoral Act 2026.
The statement was signed by the Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
