APC, PDP Race To Beat INEC Deadline
Nigeria’s main opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, have begun nationwide digital membership registration as they prepare for the 2027 general elections.
The move follows a directive from the Independent National Electoral Commission requiring parties to submit updated membership registers by April 2, 2026.
The development comes days after several opposition groups criticised the amended Electoral Act 2026, arguing that it favours the ruling All Progressives Congress.
Shortly after a meeting in Abuja, INEC revised the election timetable, moving the presidential and National Assembly polls to January 16, 2027, and governorship elections to February 6, 2027.
Despite describing the timeline as tight, the PDP announced that its electronic registration would run for three weeks from March 2 across wards in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The ADC also launched a free online portal, asking new and existing members to register or revalidate their details to qualify for party primaries.
Meanwhile, a source within the APC disclosed that the ruling party may reopen its own e-registration platform to allow more members to enrol before the deadline, as parties scramble to comply with INEC’s new requirements.
