As the door closes on the submission of party membership registers by political parties to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today, it is feared that many aspirants may be excluded from contesting the 2027 elections.
These include presidential, governorship, national and state assembly hopefuls whose fate has not yet been determined due to the uncertainties in their various parties over unresolved leadership disputes and the near impossibility for the parties to meet the INEC deadline on the conduct of primaries.
Although the deadline for the submission of party registers was yesterday, a non-working day when INEC offices will not be open, analysts say it could be done on the next working day, Monday (today).
The aspirants are mainly within the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). There are those in the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) whose registration may be challenged in court.
If Dr Umar Ardo makes good his threat to sue the NDC over how it got its registration, it may also put the chances of Peter Obi, who is expected to run as a presidential candidate and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who is expected to be the running mate, at risk.
There are aspirants within the APC who have not agreed with the consensus arrangement done by their state governors in handpicking candidates and are threatening to challenge the choices in a direct primary.
It is the view of many aspirants that governors may use their influence to deny them the tickets. Such aspirants were expected to defect to other parties to test their popularity, but had not done so up to the time of filing this report.
INEC had extended the deadline for political parties to submit their electronic membership registers for the 2027 general elections to May 10, 2026.
This is per the Electoral Act 2026 (Section 77), which stipulates that failure to meet the deadline means a party cannot field candidates.
Subsections 4, 5 and 6 of the provision state that “Each political party shall make such a register available to the Commission not later than 21 days before the date fixed for the party primaries, congresses or conventions.
“Only members whose names are contained in the register shall be eligible to vote and be voted for in party primaries, congresses and conventions.
“A political party shall not use any other register for party primaries, congresses and conventions except the register submitted to the Commission.”
ADC court case
Those who may be caught up in this maze include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who is contesting the presidential ticket of the ADC, former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and renowned banker, Mohammed Hayatudeen.
The Supreme Court, in a ruling on the leadership tussle within the ADC, recognised David Mark as the national chairman of the party but referred the matter back to the Federal High Court, from where it emanated, for further hearing.
INEC has previously deleted the names of Mark and his National Working Committee (NWC) from its portal pending the determination of the matter with Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is claiming to be the national chairman of the party
The high court had, on resumption of hearing on Thursday, adjourned the matter sine die.
Analysts say since no date has been fixed for ruling on the matter, considering that all primaries are supposed to be concluded by May 30, it may affect the chances of the party and aspirants contesting on its platform.
It is believed that it was that fear that made Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, both presidential hopefuls in the party, defect to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), but Atiku and Amaechi have chosen to remain in the party.
ADC gov’ship aspirants in Sokoto
There is also a local crisis brewing in the Sokoto chapter of the ADC, which has crippled the ambitions of aspirants on that platform.
The leadership crisis which centers on disagreements over the legitimate leadership of the state party structure and the influence of newcomers following recent defections from other parties.
The crisis may affect Saidu Umar, the 2023 PDP governorship candidate in the state, who officially defected to the ADC in March 2026; Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, former governor and Senator for Sokoto South and Dr. Shamsuddeen Aliyu Haido.
PDP factions
Others feared to be faced with the same grim prospects are all aspirants in the PDP, where though a judgement has been given, both sides in the dispute have been claiming victory, insisting on going ahead with the primary.
The PDP has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since last year, leading to the emergence of two factions.
While the Abdulrahman Muhammed faction was backed by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is backing the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction.
On one side, while the judgement does not recognise the Ibadan national convention of the party held by the Turaki-led faction, there are claims that anything done with Samuel Anyawu as secretary cannot stand legal scrutiny.
Those expected to run for the presidential ticket of the PDP include Makinde who is believed to be nursing a presidential ambition and his supporters, whom reports indicate he has asked to move to other parties ahead of the deadline.
It is not clear at the time of filing this report if they had done so.
Protesting aspirants in Yobe, Gombe disputed consensus
Six Yobe State APC gubernatorial aspirants are protesting the choice of an anointed candidate. They are Sen. Ibrahim Bomai, IGP Usman Alkali Baba (rtd), Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja, Kashim Musa Tumsah, Bashir Sheriff Machina, and Lawan Kolo Gaidam.
The six aspirants also said that after failing to reach an agreement on consensus, there should be free, fair, transparent and credible direct primaries in line with the APC guidelines on direct primaries.
This is seen as a confrontation with Governor Mai Mala Buni, which may affect their chances.
In Gombe, Dr. Jamil Isyaku Gwamna was chosen as the consensus governorship candidate for the APC ahead of the 2027 election in a process led by Governor Inuwa Yahaya. As Gwamna, a former MD of KEDCO was endorsed, other aspirants protested.
They include Senator Saidu Ahmed Alkali and Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and Dr Maryam Saad Mustapha.
In another arrangement, Senator Danjuma Goje was not chosen as the anointed candidate for the senatorial seat and also publicly rejected the consensus, demanding direct primaries. It is left to be seen how they would slug it out with the Governor’s candidate.
6 aspirants defy Gov Sule
The decision by six APC aspirants to purchase expression of interest and nomination forms for the Nasarawa State governorship race signals a direct challenge to Governor Abdullahi Sule’s attempt to anoint a successor ahead of the 21st May primary.
Former Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu Abubakar, former NASENI Executive Vice Chairman Professor Mohammed Sani Haruna, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barr. Hassan Liman, former State Accountant General Zakka Ledkwi Yakubu, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Tanimu Adamson, and Hajiya Fatima Abdullahi have all insisted on contesting, despite the governor’s public backing of Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada.
Their move underscores a split within the state APC between loyalty to the governor’s structure and a push for an open contest.
The aspirants’ appeal for a free and fair direct primary aligns with what they say was the position adopted by party stakeholders in the state. By framing their participation around process rather than personality, they are seeking to widen their appeal beyond the governor’s circle and to tap into dissatisfaction with imposed candidacies.
For ex-IGP Adamu Abubakar, Professor Haruna, and Zakka Ledkwi Yakubu, the public vow to defeat the governor’s choice in a credible primary adds a layer of personal stakes to the contest.
A contested primary could strengthen internal democracy but also risks deepening factionalism ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The direct primary format, if upheld, will shift the contest to party members across the state, making grassroots mobilization and delegate management critical.
With less than two weeks to the primary, the next moves from the APC state and national leadership will determine whether the contest remains competitive or is resolved through negotiation.
Ultimately, it may be too late for whoever loses out among them to defect and even if they do, they will not be able to get the ticket in the new party.
Adamawa
Though Governor Ahmadu Fintiri has not made public who his candidate is, his promise to announce his preferred successor ahead of next year’s governorship election in the state is already causing ripples in the state.
Among those reportedly eyeing the party’s ticket are: Hon. Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas, former federal lawmaker and prominent APC stakeholder, Salihu Bakari Girei, a technocrat and long-time party figure with strong ties in the northern senatorial zone; Ahmed Tijjani Galadima, who recently declared his ambition in Yola; Abdulrahman Bashir Haske, a businessman and Diauhaq Abubakar.
Kwara
In Kwara, though the governor is yet to announce his choice, as the 15 aspirants realise that only one of them would be chosen, by the time the announcement is made, it will be too late for them to move.
Those that might be affected include Senator Saliu Mustapha; Speaker Yakubu Danladi Salihu; Ambassador Yahaya Seriki; Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa; Senator Ibrahim Yahaaya Oloriegbe; Senator Lola Ashiru; Senator Sadiq Umar; Prof Wale Sulieman; Aisha Ahman Patigi and Muyideen Azeez Salako.
Ogun
In Ogun State, Leaders of the APC including Governor Dapo Abiodun have unanimously adopted the Senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola (Yayi) as the consensus governorship candidate ahead of next election.
The decision was taken at the APC strategic caucus meeting held at the party secretariat in Abeokuta, last week.
Some of the APC aspirants have accepted the decision. The former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sarafa Tunji Isola, however was not at the meeting.
Governor Abiodun and the Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel are squaring up over the slot. Whoever eventually loses out between them may have to wait till 2031 as the window to get the ticket of another party via defection has closed.
Rivers
The appearance of the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, before the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship screening panel in Abuja has ignited widespread political controversy.
The issue surrounding Chinda’s screening comes amid heightened political tension in Rivers State and the cold war between Governor Siminilayi Fubara and his estranged godfather and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesome Wike. With the unresolved issues, either Fubara or Chinda will eventually lose out.
Last-minute rush to buy PDP tickets
Despite the unresolved crisis in the PDP, aspirants are still buying forms. Senator Sandy Ojang Onor purchased the Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms to contest the presidential primaries on the platform of the PDP.
Onor, who arrived at the PDP Headquarters, Wadata Plaza, in the company of associates, went straight into the Office of the National Organising Secretary, where he picked his form.
He was thereafter presented with the forms by the National Chairman of the party, Abdulrahman Muhammed.
Also, Benedict Etanabene of Delta State obtained his Expression of Interest and Nomination forms for the office of Governor of Delta State yesterday ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Taraba State Governor, Jolly Nyame and two former House of Representatives members from Taraba State have also defected from APC to PDP.
The state chairman of the PDP, Mr Obidah Bitrus, told Daily Trust in an interview that Nyame had registered with the party last week. He said Ishaku Baiwa and Mr Rima Shawulu, former members of the House of Representatives, have also defected from the APC to the PDP.
A PDP leader from Kaduna, Abdulsalam Abubakar, lamented that the PDP as it is now cannot be said to have a legally binding candidate for the general elections. He said those who have bought forms from any of the factions are embarking on a wild goose chase.
He said the Electoral Act explicitly states that for any political party to hold a convention, it must give a statutory 21-day notice to INEC.
“I do not see how the action of the NEC of PDP or its BoT has complied with the provision. As for the Wike-led PDP, it has been technically and legally dissolved by the Supreme Court vide its upholding of the suspension of Ajibade, Anyawu and co. This leaves party members who have aspirations to contest stranded without a home or platform to fly their ambition,” he said.
A public commentator, Larry Edemanya, explained that since the deadline for the submission of party registers falls on a non-working day, when INEC offices will not be open, it could be done on the next working day.
He said, “However, Section 18(2) of the Interpretation Act (2004) is clear: ‘Where the time limited by any enactment for the doing of any act expires or falls upon a Sunday or a public holiday, the act may be done on the next day following that is not a Sunday or a public holiday.’
He said, in plain terms, since May 10 is a Sunday, the political parties’ last day to submit becomes Monday, May 11. He says the rule applies unless the specific law says otherwise.
DAILY TRUST.
