INEC Expresses Satisfaction As ALL 22 Political Parties Submit Membership Registers Before Deadline 

By Rotela Oguns

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that one of the crucial requirements for participating in the forthcoming election has been fulfilled by  all 22 registered political parties in the country as they have all submitted their membership registers in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.

The commission expressed satisfaction that all the political parties complied with its regulations by completing their submissions two days before the extended deadline of May 10, 2026.

The electoral umpire made this known in  a statement issued on Friday by Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s chairman of the information and voter education committee.

“The submission followed the extension granted by the Commission after political parties raised concerns during a meeting on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, regarding the timeline provided in the Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election,” the statement reads.

The INEC commissioner noted that the adjustment was made “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 explained that political parties were allowed to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, while their membership registers were required to be submitted “not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.”

Haruna said INEC is satisfied that all registered parties complied with the requirement within the approved timeframe.

He added that the commission would now subject the registers to verification processes in accordance with the law.

“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,” Haruna said.

“The Commission remains committed to the conduct of free, fair, credible and inclusive elections.”