The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shifted the deadline for submission of political party registers from April 21 to May 10.

The INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, in a statement, said it was due to concerns raised by party leaders at a meeting with the commission on March 24.

Haruna noted that the meeting agreed to adjust the period for the submission of the political parties’ registers of members to align the 21 days prescribed by Section 77(4) of the Electoral Act, 2026, with the actual dates fixed by political parties themselves.

INEC had originally fixed April 1 to 21, 2026, for the submission of the register by the parties.

The National Commissioner disclosed that political parties are informed that they are free to fix the dates of their primaries within the approved period, which is between April 23 and May 30 2026.

“Parties must adhere to this timeline to ensure a smooth electoral process,” he said.

Haruna added that the party register must be submitted to INEC not later than 21 days before the holding of their respective primaries.

“This means that the final deadline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members is extended to 10th May 2026, from the 21st April 2026 originally contained in the revised timetable,” he added.