Opposition Parties Race to Meet INEC Membership Deadline

Opposition parties in Nigeria are urgently submitting updated membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of a midnight deadline for the 2027 general elections. This rush follows INEC's extension of the deadline to March 27, 2026.

Parties must submit their membership lists no later than 21 days before their primaries, which are set to conclude by May 30, 2026. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), led by Chairman Yusuf Bala, has already submitted its membership register but did not disclose the total number of registered members.

The Social Democratic Party (SDP), represented by Shehu Gabam, confirmed compliance with INEC's requirements, while the Labour Party (LP) reported a surge in membership, particularly in northern Nigeria. Abdulmumin Abdulsalam of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) assured that they would meet the deadline, and Ejimofor Opara from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) confirmed their submission as well.

The urgency is heightened by concerns over potential disqualifications of aspirants amid unresolved coalition talks.