Political parties have been given a 91-day window 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).
Under the new schedule announced on Thursday, Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls are slated for February 6, 2027.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Haruna, said the revised timetable became necessary following amendments to the Electoral Act 2026.
According to the schedule, political party primaries — including dispute resolution — will run from April 23 to May 30, 2026. Parties are also mandated to submit their digital membership registers at least 21 days before conducting any primary, congress, or convention, failing which they risk disqualification.
Opposition parties have criticised the timeline, alleging that it places them at a disadvantage.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through its factional National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the party was studying the timetable to ensure compliance but noted that the schedule places “unnecessary pressure” on opposition groups.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), however, went further, accusing INEC of creating “booby traps” designed to favour President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi described the timetable as unrealistic, citing tight deadlines for digital membership registration, congresses, and direct primaries.
He claimed the compressed schedule could prevent opposition parties from fielding candidates and accused the commission of aiding what he termed an “automatic self-succession project.”
Similarly, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) faulted the timetable, arguing that it imposes costly and logistically challenging direct primaries nationwide within a limited timeframe.
Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim also criticised the move, saying INEC lacks constitutional authority to dictate when parties should hold their primaries beyond ensuring compliance with statutory submission deadlines.
Reacting to the criticisms, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Basiru, dismissed the objections as politically motivated.
He maintained that the timetable aligns strictly with the Electoral Act and advised aggrieved parties to seek legal redress or consider boycotting the elections if dissatisfied.
“Their lamentation only shows lack of preparedness,” Basiru said.
INEC, however, insisted it was merely implementing the law as passed by the National Assembly.
Speaking on Channels Television, Haruna said opposition parties were entitled to their opinions but stressed that the commission had no choice but to comply with statutory provisions.
He also expressed concerns over funding constraints, noting that INEC’s 2026 budget had yet to be approved, potentially affecting logistics such as ballot paper printing.
Meanwhile, political realignments are already underway. The South-South zone of the ADC, led by Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has endorsed former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, for the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
Odigie-Oyegun disclosed that Amaechi formally informed regional leaders of his intention to contest, adding that the zone unanimously resolved to support his ambition.
With primaries now set for April and May 2026, parties face a race against time to meet regulatory requirements amid growing political tensions ahead of the 2027 polls.
