By Abiodun Folarin
WorldStage– The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 22 registered political parties have submitted their membership registers to the Commission in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
The submission followed an extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, over the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.
INEC, in a statement issued on Friday by the Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, explained that all registered political parties submitted their registers as of May 8, 2026, two days before the extended deadline.
Haruna said: “Following a meeting with political parties, the Commission, in a press statement issued on March 27, 2026, adjusted the deadline for the submission of party registers from April 21, 2026, to May 10, 2026, to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026 and the actual dates fixed by political parties for their primaries.”
He added that political parties were allowed to conduct their primaries within the approved period from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026, while the register of party members was required to be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
INEC, however, noted that all registered political parties complied with the requirement within the extended timeframe and that the submitted registers would undergo the necessary verification processes in line with the law.
“The Commission remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections,” he said.
