1 month ago
12
Political parties have 91 days ending May 30, 2026, to conduct and conclude their primaries following the release of a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Naija News reports that INEC on Thursday announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would now hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
In a statement, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Haruna, said the commission approved the revised timetable and schedule of activities following amendments to the electoral law.
According to the timetable, party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them, will commence on April 23, 2026, and end on May 30, 2026.
The Electoral Act 2026 mandates political parties to submit their digital membership registers to INEC at least 21 days before any primary, congress or convention, warning that failure to comply would lead to disqualification from fielding candidates.
Reacting, the factional National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ini Ememobong, said the party was studying the timetable to ensure compliance.
He said, “There is no doubt that INEC has put opposition parties under unnecessary pressure with the new timetable, and this will in turn give the APC undue advantage.
“We are studying the timetable to ensure that we do everything within our power to meet up with all the activities ahead of the deadline.”
ADC Rejects Timetable
The National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, Bolaji Abdullahi, in an interview with Punch accused INEC of setting “boobytraps” to favour President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of 2027.
Abdullahi said, “They (INEC) just want to coronate Asiwaju (Tinubu); it is as simple as that. We have reviewed the new INEC timetable and we know that it is designed to coronate Asiwaju.
“The new timetable is part of the self-perpetuation plan because we know that there is no way the opposition political parties can meet up with any of these deadlines.”
He described the requirement to compile and submit a comprehensive digital membership register ahead of primaries as a “near impossible hurdle.”
“What INEC has done with this timetable and these deadlines is to create a situation that will make it impossible for the opposition parties to contest in the election in 2027, and it is unacceptable,” he added.
Opposition At A Disadvantage – NNPP
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Dipo Johnson, said the revised timetable placed opposition parties at a disadvantage.
“The opposition is at great disadvantage with the new INEC timetable and deadlines. It has put the opposition in a disadvantaged position,” he said.
Johnson alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress was better positioned to meet the deadlines because it had only one likely presidential candidate.
“It is an overreach for them to put their hands in the parties and say you have to do it this way knowing fully well that it might be difficult for parties to reach consensus and it will be too costly for a majority of parties to have direct primaries everywhere in the country at the same time,” he said.
“We are rejecting the new timetable.”
Hashim Reacts To New Timetable
A former presidential candidate, Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, also criticised the adjusted schedule, describing it as an overreach of INEC’s powers.
He said, “It’s not the business of INEC to dictate to parties when they should conduct nominations of candidates for elections.
“INEC is not a headmaster that can impose what it wants on political parties. As long as parties comply with the Electoral Act regarding submission timelines, they have the right to determine when to hold their primaries.”
He alleged that moving the primaries to an earlier date was a calculated move to weaken opposition parties grappling with internal crises and litigation.
English (US) ·