By Our Reporter

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that political parties are now free to fix dates for their primary elections within the approved window of April 23 to May 30, 2026, as part of adjustments to the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The decision was reached following concerns raised by political parties during a consultative meeting with the Commission on March 24, 2026, regarding the earlier timeline for submitting party membership registers.
In a press statement issued on Friday, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, explained that the adjustment was necessary to align with the provisions of Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates a 21-day notice before party primaries.
Originally, political parties were required to submit their registers of members between April 1 and April 21, 2026. However, INEC has now extended the deadline to May 10, 2026, to give parties flexibility in scheduling their primaries within the approved period.
“The register of party members must be submitted not later than 21 days before the conduct of primaries,” the statement emphasized, noting that compliance with this requirement is critical to ensuring a smooth and credible electoral process.
INEC urged all political parties to strictly adhere to the revised schedule to avoid disruptions in the lead-up to the 2027 general elections.