2027: Turaki PDP Launches Nationwide Membership Drive

The Tanimu Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party will on Monday begin a nationwide membership registration exercise across Nigeria as part of its early plans for the 2027 general elections.

The exercise, announced on Saturday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, is expected to run for three weeks in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the party leadership, the registration is designed to update and expand its membership base at ward, chapter and state levels.

The process will be conducted physically at party offices, while special cases will be handled at the national secretariat. The exercise will take place daily except on Sundays.

The move follows recent developments in the electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Earlier in February, INEC scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, and the governorship and state assembly elections for March 6, 2027.

However, concerns were raised by some Muslim groups because the dates overlapped with the Ramadan period.

After the concerns, the Senate amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the required notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days.

This change allowed INEC to adjust the timetable. The commission later issued a revised schedule moving the presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls were shifted to February 6, 2027.

Under the updated guidelines, political parties must submit a complete digital register of their members to INEC by April 2, 2026. The Turaki-led PDP said its registration drive is aimed at meeting this requirement.

A committee headed by the party’s National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Daka Shan, has been set up to supervise the process and address complaints that may arise.

The party encouraged its members and other interested Nigerians to visit the nearest PDP office in their ward to register within the registration period.

With the deadline set by the electoral body drawing closer, the exercise forms part of the party’s wider preparation for participation in the 2027 elections.