INEC Conducts Verification at Labour Party Secretariat as PDP Announces 2027 Election Plans
A monitoring team from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) visited the National Secretariat of the Labour Party (LP), led by Senator Nenadi Usman, on Wednesday, to conduct a verification exercise of the party's leadership structure, membership records, and office documentation. This development coincided with a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) releasing its comprehensive timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, setting the presidential Nomination and Expression of Interest Forms at a total of N51 million, while granting a waiver on nomination fees for female aspirants across all elective positions.
INEC's Monitoring Mission at Labour Party Headquarters
The INEC team, led by Mansur Hassan, emphasized that their visit was part of a verification exercise aimed at confirming the party's physical structure, executive composition, and compliance with INEC records. Hassan clarified that the team was not on an observational mission but on a monitoring assignment, stating, "We are INEC monitors, not observers. We are here to monitor and correct things, not observe." He detailed that the delegation would verify the presence of party executives in line with INEC records, assess the composition of the National Working Committee (NWC) as per the LP Constitution, and review documentation related to the party's secretariat.
Hassan further explained, "We want to have a look at evidence of the tenancy of this place (secretariat), the tenancy agreement, and receipt of ownership or possession. We will sight the document and have a copy of it." Additionally, he disclosed that the team would request a soft copy of the party's membership register and verify staff presence at the secretariat, underscoring INEC's commitment to ensuring political parties adhere to regulatory standards and maintain transparent operations.
PDP Faction Unveils 2027 Election Timetable and Fee Structure
In a parallel development, a PDP faction, through a document signed by its National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, outlined an extensive programme for the 2027 elections. The timetable includes the sale of forms, screening of aspirants, conduct of primaries, and submission of candidates to INEC. According to the schedule, the party submitted its register to INEC on April 21, 2026, followed by notification of its primaries on April 22.
The sale of nomination forms is set to run from April 27 to May 4, with a deadline for submitting completed forms on May 9. Screening of aspirants for all categories of elections—including Houses of Assembly, National Assembly, governorship, and presidential—will hold on May 11, with appeals scheduled for May 12. Key primary election dates include:
- Presidential primary: May 17 and 18
- House of Representatives primary: May 21
- Senate primary: May 23
- Houses of Assembly primary: May 25
- Governorship primary: May 27
Appeals from these exercises will be concluded by May 30, ensuring a streamlined process for candidate selection.
Fee Structure and Women's Participation Incentives
The PDP faction has established a detailed fee structure for aspirants, with presidential aspirants required to pay N1 million for expression of interest and N50 million for nomination, totaling N51 million. Other fees include:
- Governorship aspirants: N21 million
- Senatorial aspirants: N6 million
- House of Representatives aspirants: N4 million each
- House of Assembly aspirants: N3 million
However, in a move to promote gender inclusivity, the party announced that female aspirants would only be required to pay for expression of interest forms, effectively waiving nomination fees. This initiative is part of efforts to encourage greater participation of women in the electoral process, addressing historical barriers and fostering diversity in political representation.
These events highlight ongoing preparations by political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, with INEC's verification exercises ensuring compliance and the PDP's measures aiming to balance revenue generation with inclusive policies. The developments underscore the dynamic nature of Nigeria's political landscape as parties gear up for the next electoral cycle.
