All 22 registered political parties have now submitted their membership registers to INEC. This complies with requirements under the Electoral Act 2026 ahead of next year's general elections.
Mohammed Kudu Haruna, who heads INEC's Information and Voter Education Committee, made the announcement on Friday. He disclosed the development in a statement to the media.
The parties met the deadline after INEC granted them extra time. Political parties had raised concerns about the original timeline during a meeting on March 24, 2026.
Every one of the 22 parties submitted registers by May 8. This came two days before the extended deadline of May 10, 2026.
INEC had initially set April 21 as the submission date. Following consultations with the political parties, the commission pushed this to May 10.
The shift aligned with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026. It also matched the primary election schedules each party had set for themselves.
Political parties were permitted to hold primaries between April 23 and May 30. Their membership registers had to arrive no later than 21 days before their respective primaries.
The registers will now undergo verification checks. INEC said this process will follow legal requirements.
According to the commission's statement, the adjustment addressed real concerns raised by party officials. The extended timeline gave them breathing room to prepare properly.
INEC reiterated its commitment to conducting credible elections. The commission emphasized that free, fair and inclusive polls remain its priority heading into 2027.
Election officials say the submission of registers is critical for the electoral process. It helps INEC maintain accurate records of party membership across the country.
With this milestone reached, focus now shifts to verification. INEC will scrutinize the submitted documents in the coming weeks.
