All 22 Political Parties Submit Membership Registers To INEC Ahead Of 2027 Elections
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 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, marking another major milestone in preparations for the 2027 General Election.
The Commission disclosed this in a press statement issued on Friday, 15 May, 2026, and signed by Mohammed Kudu Haruna, Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to INEC, the political parties completed the submission process on 8 May, 2026, two days before the expiration of the extended deadline granted by the Commission.
The electoral body explained that the deadline extension became necessary after political parties raised concerns over the original timeline during a meeting held with INEC on Tuesday, 24 March, 2026.
In response to the concerns, the Commission issued a statement on 27 March, 2026, adjusting the deadline for the submission of party membership registers from 21 April, 2026, to 10 May, 2026.
The revised schedule, INEC noted, was designed to align with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates chosen by political parties for their primaries.
Under the updated timetable, political parties were permitted to conduct their primaries between 23 April and 30 May, 2026. However, each party was required by law to submit its register of members to the Commission not later than 21 days before the date fixed for its primary election.
INEC expressed satisfaction that every registered political party met the legal requirement within the stipulated timeframe.
The Commission stated that the submitted registers would now undergo a comprehensive verification process in accordance with the law to ensure compliance and authenticity.
The statement read in part, “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 reiterated its commitment to organising free, fair, credible and inclusive elections, assuring Nigerians and stakeholders that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the integrity of the 2027 electoral process.
The submission and verification of party membership registers is a critical requirement under Nigeria’s electoral framework, as it provides the legal basis for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates for elective offices.
With the successful submission by all 22 political parties, preparations for the 2027 General Election are expected to gather momentum as parties proceed with their primaries and internal selection processes in the coming weeks.
