Applications for New Party Registrations Hit 122 as INEC Receives 12 More
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the receipt of 12 fresh applications from associations seeking registration as political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. This brings the total number of pending applications to 122.
The update was made public on Thursday by Mr. Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, following the Commission’s weekly regular meeting held in Abuja.
According to Olumekun, the commission is processing the applications in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s own regulations and guidelines for political party registration.
He also revealed a situation that raised concern within the Commission: one of the interim secretaries of an applicant association reportedly abandoned his group to join another yet-to-be-registered association. Both applications remain under consideration, but Olumekun stressed the need for consistency and integrity among groups seeking party registration.
“In reviewing the applications received so far, the Commission has noted with concern a situation where the interim secretary of one of the associations abandoned his association to join another that also applied for registration as a political party. Both applications are currently being processed,” he said.
To foster transparency, INEC has uploaded details of all the new applicants—including proposed names, acronyms, headquarters, and interim leadership—on its official website and social media platforms.
The move is meant to allow the public, including existing political parties and civil society organisations, to raise any valid objections where necessary.
Olumekun reiterated INEC’s commitment to conducting the registration process with transparency and fairness. He emphasized that the Commission is maintaining an open-door policy and will continue providing regular updates as more applications are submitted or reviewed.
In addition to the registration updates, INEC also announced the release of Supplementary Regulations No. 1 to the 2022 guidelines governing the conduct of elections.
These new regulations are intended to clarify issues around the application of Section 65 of the Electoral Act, which empowers INEC to review election results not properly declared or compiled under the law.
The supplementary regulations are now available on INEC’s website, and the Commission has begun distributing physical copies to political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.
The latest development highlights growing political activity as the 2027 elections draw closer. It also reflects heightened interest among various political movements and groups to secure formal recognition within Nigeria’s democratic space.
INEC has assured Nigerians that each application will be subjected to strict scrutiny, and only associations that meet the constitutional and statutory requirements will be granted party status.
As the nation edges toward another election cycle, INEC’s gatekeeping role remains pivotal in determining which political platforms will appear on the ballot.
