Opposition Parties Race To Meet INEC Deadline
Opposition political parties across Nigeria rushed to submit updated membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission before the midnight deadline ahead of the 2027 elections.
The move followed INEC’s directive requiring parties to submit digital membership records at least 21 days before their primaries.
Several parties, including the Labour Party, SDP, NNPP, APGA, YPP and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, confirmed compliance with the Electoral Act.
Party officials said emergency registration drives and internal meetings were held in recent weeks to avoid possible disqualification of aspirants from the coming primaries.
The Labour Party revealed that it recorded surprising membership growth in northern states, especially in Taraba, Adamawa and Benue.
The NNPP also claimed it surpassed INEC’s minimum membership requirement, while other parties said they had already submitted multiple volumes of registration documents to the commission.
INEC said the exercise is necessary to verify party membership and monitor transparent primaries ahead of the 2027 polls.
The deadline also triggered fresh coalition talks and political tension as parties worked to avoid legal and electoral complications before the election season fully begins.
