ABUJA — With the 2027 general elections fast approaching, Nigeria’s political landscape has been thrown into a frenzy. Major and fringe political parties are currently in a last-minute scramble to meet the strict regulatory deadlines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to an official INEC timetable, all political parties are mandated to submit their updated membership registers by midnight on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Furthermore, INEC has set a rigid window for the conduct of party primaries, which must conclude by the end of May ahead of the newly scheduled January 16, 2027, Presidential elections.
While some parties are cruising through the regulatory checkpoints, an ABT News independent investigation into the state of the parties reveals that several opposition platforms are struggling—and some may outrightly fail to meet the required milestones.
Here is a breakdown of where the parties stand as the clock ticks down:
Parties on Track to Meet Deadlines
- All Progressives Congress (APC): The ruling party appears to be the most organized in this cycle. Having already concluded the sale of nomination forms, the APC has commenced the screening of aspirants. They are fully on track to complete this by May 12 and will publish their list of cleared candidates by May 13.
- Labour Party (LP): Despite a tight window, the Labour Party is methodically executing its timetable. Form sales wrap up on May 16, with state-level screenings slated for May 20, and national/presidential screenings on May 22.
- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), & Others: The PDP, SDP, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Accord Party, and the BOOT Party (which recently introduced a strict “Trust Before Ticket” financial commitment system) have all successfully released detailed internal schedules. They are actively holding national conventions and are projected to comfortably meet INEC’s submissions.
Parties Struggling to Meet Deadlines
- Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC): The newly prominent NDC, heavily backed by an “OK Movement” coalition, is severely struggling against the clock. Political analysts report that due to the tight May 31 deadline for concluding primaries, the NDC is finding it nearly impossible to mobilise and field National Assembly candidates across all rural constituencies, severely limiting the party’s national reach.
Parties Failing/Facing Imminent Disqualification
- African Democratic Congress (ADC): The ADC is currently in the eye of a political and legal storm, making it highly unlikely they will successfully meet INEC’s cohesive candidate submission guidelines. The party is deeply fractured, with rival factions recently protesting at INEC headquarters in Abuja over leadership recognition. More damningly, Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi recently filed a sudden legal application seeking the outright disqualification of the ADC—alongside four other unnamed political parties—from participating in the 2027 polls altogether.
As the midnight May 10 deadline for membership registers looms, party secretariats across Abuja remain open round the clock. INEC has maintained a firm stance, warning that it will enforce strict compliance with the Electoral Act and will not grant extensions to defaulting parties.
Stay tuned to www.abtnews.net for continuous updates as the 2027 electoral race unfolds.
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