Opposition political parties have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the deadline for party primaries for the 2027 general election until the end of July 2026.
They made the demand in a statement released at the end of an opposition party national summit in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday.
The meeting brought together the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Kabiru Turaki, and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by David Mark.
Party leaders claimed during the conference that the electoral body’s present schedule was intended to hurt them.
“We consider the recent guidelines released by INEC as obstacles, deliberately engineered to impose conditions and deadlines on the opposition parties,” the communiqué reads.
“We therefore demand that INEC extends the deadline for primaries till the end of July, 2026.”
Recall that the current deadline for party primaries is May 30, 2026.
The parties claimed that in order to guarantee fair competition prior to the 2027 elections, an extension was required. They further argued that Nigeria’s democratic future depended on this.
Additionally, opposition party leaders also accused the ruling party of attempts to undermine multiparty democracy and impose a one-party system on the country.
They also rejected what they described as efforts to “impose President Bola Tinubu as the sole Presidential candidate in 2027”. Adding that opposition parties would field candidates and actively contest the elections.
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Fresh crisis is currently brewing in the PDP as the Wike-backed faction had earlier ordered prompt preparations for the party primaries in accordance with INEC regulation.
Similarly, the ruling APC has also released its timetable for the primaries. The schedule states that nomination form sales will start on Saturday, April 25 and conclude on Saturday, May 2.
The party’s deputy national secretary also added that the party will screen all candidates, from the House of Assembly to the presidential level, between May 5 and May 9.
While the ADC is yet to unveil a detailed plan for its primaries schedule, Supporters of Peter Obi and former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso have formed a new political pressure group, the Obi–Kwankwaso Movement.
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