INEC Adjusts Timetable To Reflect Legal Requirements For Party Primaries
•By Admin
ABUJA — THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has adjusted aspects of its timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election to align with the provisions of the Electoral Act regarding political party primaries.
The adjustment followed concerns raised by political parties during a meeting with the Commission on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, over the timeline for the submission of their registers of members, initially scheduled for April 1–21, 2026.
At the consultative meeting, several political parties expressed reservations about the timeline, arguing that it did not sufficiently accommodate their internal processes, particularly the coordination of primaries across various levels.
Stakeholders also noted that the earlier deadline risked conflicting with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which mandates political parties to submit their membership registers to INEC not later than 21 days before the conduct of their primaries.
According to party representatives, fixing a uniform deadline for all parties, regardless of their primary schedules, could create legal and logistical complications and expose them to challenges over non-compliance with the law.
The development comes against the backdrop of past election cycles, where disputes over party primaries, non-compliance with electoral guidelines, and litigation arising from procedural lapses significantly affected the electoral process and, in some cases, altered the outcomes of party nominations.
In response, INEC adopted a more flexible approach, allowing political parties to determine their primary dates within an approved window while ensuring strict adherence to statutory requirements.
In a statement issued on Friday, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the Commission reviewed the timeline to reflect the 21-day requirement stipulated under the Electoral Act.
He explained that the decision was aimed at ensuring full compliance with the provision mandating political parties to submit their membership registers at least 21 days before their primaries.
“Political parties are free to fix the dates of their primaries within the approved period from April 23 to May 30, 2026,” Haruna said.
He stressed that adherence to the revised timeline is critical to ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process.
Haruna further stated that the register of party members must be submitted to the Commission not later than 21 days before the conduct of their respective primaries.
He added that the final deadline for submission of membership registers has now been extended to May 10, 2026, from the earlier date of April 21, 2026.
The Commission urged all political parties to strictly comply with the revised schedule to avoid disruptions and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.
The adjustment, analysts say, is part of INEC’s broader effort to reduce pre-election disputes, enhance transparency, and strengthen compliance with the legal framework ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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