Nigeria’s electoral commission has pushed back a key deadline for political parties, as the country begins its formal three-year countdown to the 2027 general elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced on Friday that political parties now have until 10 May 2026 to submit their official membership registers. The original deadline had been set for late April.

The move follows a high-level meeting in Abuja earlier this week, where party leaders raised concerns over the tight schedule. Under Nigeria’s newly updated Electoral Act 2026, parties must provide their membership lists to the commission at least 21 days before holding any primary elections to select candidates.

A ‘Window for Primaries’

In a statement issued by National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna, the commission confirmed that the adjustment was made to ensure all parties have sufficient time to comply with the law.

The revised timeline also establishes a critical “window” for internal party democracy:

• 23 April to 30 May 2026: Political parties are permitted to conduct their primary elections.
• 10 May 2026: The final cut-off for the submission of membership registers.

“The commission agreed to adjust the period… to align the 21 days prescribed by the Electoral Act with the actual dates fixed by the political parties themselves,” the statement read.

Why the registers matter

In previous Nigerian elections, the “membership register” has been a frequent flashpoint for legal disputes.

To prevent “party hopping” and the sudden inflation of member numbers before a vote, the law now requires a verified digital and physical trail of who is eligible to vote in a party’s primary. Failure to submit these registers on time can lead to a party being disqualified from fielding candidates in the general election.

Analysis: Testing the 2026 Act

This is one of the first major tests of the Electoral Act 2026, which was designed to bring more transparency to the often-opaque world of Nigerian party politics.

By extending the deadline, INEC is attempting to avoid the “administrative chaos” that has marred previous pre-election periods. However, the commission warned that there would be no further flexibility, stressing that “strict adherence” to the new dates is essential for a credible and transparent path to 2027.

The move comes as the ruling APC and opposition groups begin mobilizing for a national convention, signaling that the race to succeed—or challenge—the current administration is already beginning to intensify.