2027 Elections: Parties Race Against Time To Meet New Electoral Act Requirements
Pressure Mounts After New Electoral Law
POLITICAL parties across Nigeria are scrambling to meet new compliance deadlines following the release of the 2026 Electoral Act and the revised timetable for the 2027 general elections issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The electoral body has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, setting in motion a tight schedule that requires parties to quickly reorganise their internal processes.
Although the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) had earlier threatened to boycott the elections unless aspects of the new law were amended, several parties have begun making adjustments to comply with the updated electoral framework.
A review of activities across major parties shows mixed levels of readiness, with some accelerating digital reforms and others struggling with internal crises and financial constraints.
Key Provisions of the Electoral Act
The Electoral Act 2026 introduces sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening transparency in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Among its key provisions is a requirement that political parties nominate candidates through direct primaries or consensus arrangements, effectively abolishing the delegate system previously used in many party conventions.
The law also prevents courts from halting electoral processes while legal disputes are still pending, a move designed to reduce last-minute disruptions to elections.
Another major requirement compels parties to maintain a comprehensive digital register of members, including personal details and National Identification Numbers (NIN).
These provisions have forced political parties to accelerate internal reforms and improve their administrative structures ahead of the 2027 elections.
Labour Party Faces Funding, Organisational Challenges
The Labour Party is currently racing against time to rebuild its structures and mobilise funds for the electoral cycle.
The party, led by Nenadi Usman, has intensified its nationwide membership revalidation and registration exercise following the release of INEC’s timetable.
However, party insiders say the process has been slowed by internal disputes and funding difficulties.
A leaked memo by former interim National Publicity Secretary Tony Akeni highlighted the financial strain within the party.
According to him, some party officials have had to fund their activities personally due to a lack of institutional support.
He described the situation as an unwritten “fund-yourself policy” that has made it difficult for the party to operate effectively.
Despite the challenges, the leadership insists preparations are ongoing. The party has already submitted the list of State Working Committee members for 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory to INEC.
Usman has also expressed confidence in the party’s grassroots support base.
“In every polling unit, ward and local government in Nigeria, there is either a serving or retired worker,” she said.
To boost its finances, party leaders are considering fundraising initiatives such as donor dinners, sales of party merchandise and voluntary contributions from supporters.
APGA Advances Digital Membership Drive
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) says it is already well positioned to comply with the new electoral requirements.
According to party spokesman Mazi Ejimofor, APGA began electronic registration of members as early as June 1, 2024, well before the passage of the Electoral Act.
“We are very prepared because what we have been doing appears to have anticipated the provisions of the Electoral Act,” he said.
However, the party acknowledged that the requirement for NIN-linked registration has forced it to update its membership database.
APGA also urged INEC to ensure its guidelines align with the intent of the law and do not inadvertently disadvantage smaller parties.
The party expressed confidence that it would meet all compliance deadlines but declined to confirm whether it would present a presidential candidate in 2027.
APC Strengthens Technology and Grassroots Funding
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) says it has intensified preparations for the elections through a technology-driven membership database and a grassroots funding model.
National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda disclosed that the party now maintains a verified digital database of more than 10 million members, linked to their NIN.
“Our electronic registration gives us real-time access to our members, allowing us to mobilise efficiently and conduct credible primaries,” he said.
The party has also inaugurated a National Convention Planning Committee headed by former House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Bello Masari to prepare for upcoming internal party activities.
Masari assured stakeholders that the convention would set a new benchmark for party organisation.
PDP Confident, ADC Raises Concerns
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it is ready for the 2027 elections despite ongoing internal court disputes.
Deputy National Publicity Secretary Farida Umar said the party had already conducted congresses from the ward to state levels and was fully prepared for the contest.
She dismissed concerns that the party’s declining number of governors could weaken its financial capacity.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the compliance timeline, arguing that the requirement for nationwide digital membership registration within a short period places opposition parties at a disadvantage.
Party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi described the deadline as unrealistic.
“What took the ruling party more than a year to achieve is what they expect us to accomplish within one month,” he said.
Despite these concerns, political parties across the country are accelerating preparations as the countdown to the 2027 general elections continues.
