Opposition political parties on Saturday rushed to beat the deadline for submitting updated membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The scramble followed INEC’s March 27 extension of the deadline for submission of membership registers to May 10, 2026.
“The register of party members must be submitted to INEC not later than 21 days before the holding of their respective primaries,” the commission stated.
INEC fixed May 30 as the deadline for party primaries, making May 9 the final day for parties planning primaries on that date to submit their digital membership registers.
The development has heightened concerns over possible disqualification of aspirants and unresolved coalition negotiations among opposition parties.
In separate interviews with The PUNCH, the parties said they had either complied with the Electoral Act requirements or were concluding the process before the deadline.
The National Chairman of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Yusuf Bala, said the party had exceeded INEC’s minimum membership threshold and submitted its register in three volumes.
“We have passed the threshold of INEC that no party should have fewer than 5,000. We have met that and far surpassed it,” Bala said.
He added that the party had members across the country, including Kano, Kaduna and parts of the North-Central region.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Social Democratic Party, Rufus Aiyenigba, said the party had complied with the directive before INEC officials visited its secretariat for verification.
“We have done the needful by giving them tonnes of the registration documents,” he said, adding that the party’s membership strength was “quite encouraging.”
SDP National Chairman, Shehu Gabam, also confirmed compliance, saying, “Yes, we did.”
The Labour Party said it was witnessing a surge in membership registrations in northern Nigeria.
LP National Publicity Secretary, Ken Asogwa, said available data showed stronger registration figures in the North than in the South.
“Surprisingly, what we were able to glimpse from the backend shows that we have more members in the North than in the South,” Asogwa said.
He said states such as Taraba, Adamawa and Benue recorded high numbers of nomination form purchases and registrations.
Asogwa credited the party’s acting national leadership for expanding the party’s reach in the North and described the Labour Party as “crisis-free.”
The Nigeria Democratic Congress also expressed confidence that it would meet the deadline.
Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Abdulmumin Abdulsalam, said the party was working in line with the Electoral Act but did not disclose its membership figures.
The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Ejimofor Opara, confirmed compliance, saying simply, “Yes, please.”
The Young Progressives Party also said it had met the requirement.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Wale Egbeola-Martins, said, “Yes, we have complied.”
Publisher and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, also confirmed that the party submitted its register.
INEC had insisted on strict compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act guiding party administration and nomination processes.
The commission said submission of membership registers was critical to verifying party membership authenticity and monitoring compliance during congresses and primary elections.
INEC said the directive was in line with Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires political parties to submit membership registers at least 21 days before their primaries.
The deadline triggered hurried registration drives, emergency meetings and coalition talks among political parties seeking to avoid shutting out aspirants ahead of the 2027 elections.
