PDP TO START DIGITAL REGISTRATION FOR MEMBERS ON MONDAY

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By: Balogun Ibrahim

The Peoples Democratic Party has announced it will launch a nationwide digital membership drive on Monday as part of its preparations for the 2027 general elections.

In a statement on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the exercise aims to expand the party’s support base, strengthen grassroots structures, and recruit new members across the country ahead of the polls.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had initially scheduled the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, with governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls set for March 6, 2027.

However, following the Senate’s amendment of Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill—which reduced the mandatory election notice period from 360 days to 300 days—INEC now has the flexibility to revise the electoral timetable.

Subsequently, the Independent National Electoral Commission released a revised timetable on Thursday, moving the presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027, while the governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls are now set for February 6, 2027.

Under the revised timetable, political parties must submit a complete digital membership register by April 2, 2026—a requirement that some critics say could effectively bar opposition parties from participating.

In response, the Peoples Democratic Party National Working Committee, led by Tanimu Turaki, announced that it has approved the launch of digital membership registration in all wards across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The statement read in part: “The exercise will commence on Monday, March 2, 2026, and run for three weeks. Its purpose is to compile the digital membership register in line with the Electoral Act 2026, which mandates all political parties to submit their members’ digital registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

“Registration will take place daily, except Sundays, at all Ward, Chapter, and State offices of the party, with special cases handled at the National Secretariat. A special committee, led by the National Organising Secretary, Hon. Theophilus Daka Shan, has been established to oversee the exercise and address any complaints.

“Members and the general public are encouraged to visit the nearest PDP office in their ward to complete their registration.”