Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has announced a nationwide membership drive, seeking to bolster its grassroots machinery as the countdown to the 2027 general election gathers pace.
The party faction led by Tanimu Turaki, said it would begin a three-week digital registration exercise on Monday, framing the initiative as both a compliance measure and a political mobilisation effort.
In a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said the campaign was designed to expand its support base and strengthen ward-level structures across Nigeria’s 36 states and the federal capital territory ahead of the polls.
The move comes amid a reshaped electoral calendar. In February, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) initially scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for 20 February 2027, with governorship and state assembly contests to follow on 6 March.
However, after the Senate amended clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill — reducing the statutory notice period from 360 to 300 days — the commission revised its timetable. Under the updated schedule released this week, presidential and National Assembly elections will now take place on 16 January 2027, with governorship and state assembly polls set for 6 February.
Crucially, political parties must submit a comprehensive digital membership register to INEC by 2 April 2026. Some critics argue that the tighter timeframe risks disadvantaging opposition parties, particularly those still rebuilding structures at state and local levels.
In response, the PDP’s national working committee said it had authorised the immediate launch of digital membership registration in every ward nationwide. The exercise, beginning 2 March 2026, will run daily except Sundays at ward, chapter and state offices, with exceptional cases handled at the party’s national secretariat.
A special committee headed by the national organising secretary, Theophilus Daka Shan, has been constituted to supervise the process and address complaints.
“The essence of this exercise,” the statement said, “is to compile the digital membership register in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, which requires all political parties to submit the digital register of their members to the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
The announcement signals an early organisational push by the PDP as parties recalibrate under a compressed electoral timeline — and as competition for both members and momentum intensifies well ahead of formal campaigning.
