The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rescheduled the timelines for activities for 2027 general elections.
A press statement issued on Friday, March 27, by INEC’s National Commissioner and chairman, Information and Voters Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Harina, after the commission’s meeting of with the political parties on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
At the parley, concerns were raised by stakeholders on the timeline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members under the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Elections, which was originally fixed for April 1, 2026 to April 21, 2026.
The commission, however, at the said meeting, agreed to adjust the period for the submission of the register of membership of political parties to align the 21 days prescribed by Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, with the actual dates fixed by political parties themselves.
Political parties are accordingly informed that they are free to fix the dates of their primaries within the approved period from April 23, 2026 to May 30, 2026. By this arrangement, the 21-day window will become operative when political parties announce the date for their primary election.
Insisting that it is imperative that parties adhere to this timeline to ensure a smooth electoral process, the INEC statement further stated that “the register of party members must be submitted to INEC not later than 21 days before the holding of their respective primaries. This means that the final deadline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members is extended to May 10, 2026, from April 21, 2026 originally contained in the revised timetable.
