INEC insists April deadline for digital membership register is ‘feasible’
A national commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, has defended the commission’s revised timetable for pre-election activities, insisting that political parties have sufficient time to compile and submit comprehensive digital membership registers.
The commission on Thursday released an updated schedule outlining deadlines for party compliance, voter registration and other preparatory steps ahead of the 2027 general election. Central to the controversy is the requirement that political parties submit detailed digital membership registers by 2 April 2026 — a move that has drawn objections from several parties.
Speaking on Politics Today on Channels Television on Friday, Haruna dismissed claims that the timeline was unrealistic.
“I don’t see what the big problem or big issue with membership is. Right now, they are supposed to have had their membership sorted out,” he said. “Every serious party should have no problem collating its membership.”
His remarks came after Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesperson of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), alleged on the same programme that recent amendments to the Electoral Act were designed by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to manipulate the 2027 polls.
“What I can assure you is that ADC will not be used to legitimise a fraudulent process,” Abdullahi said.
Haruna rejected the accusation, stressing that INEC was bound strictly by the law. “They are entitled to their opinion. That is the law of the land. INEC doesn’t have the pleasure of rejecting any law. It is guided by what the law is,” he said.
While defending the timetable, the commissioner acknowledged that the schedule presents operational challenges for the commission itself. He cited funding delays and procurement constraints as major concerns.
“Of course, we are bothered by it. We need six months now for our money to be released, and a lot of the things we require are not off the shelf,” he said.
Haruna disclosed that INEC would need to procure additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines to replace lost units, alongside printing ballot papers and result sheets. Although some materials are produced internally, he noted that key raw materials are sourced externally.
“INEC is getting ready, but I can’t tell you that we are ready because we have yet to get the money for the sensitive materials,” he added.
The commissioner also revealed plans to revalidate the voter register, expressing concern over historically low public engagement during objection and verification periods.
On whether the next general election would be entirely seamless, Haruna was cautious: “I cannot tell you it will be glitch-free,” he said.