The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has responded to rising criticism about its handling of new political party registrations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to reports, the electoral board has stressed that compliance with constitutional and legal norms will not be compromised.
The commission issued a clear statement on Wednesday, dismissing online rumors saying it had registered two new parties — Independent Democrats and Peoples Democratic Movement — as bogus and advising the public to avoid such material.
“To clarify, the commission has not yet registered any new parties. Nigeria currently has 19 registered political parties. “Nothing has been added,” INEC confirmed through its official 𝕏 Twitter.
INEC reported that both political groups named were initially registered in August 2013, but were among the 72 deregistered in February 2020 in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution.
‘No Registration by Blackmail’—INEC Warns
Despite pressure from various political individuals and coalitions seeking registration, INEC emphasized that the party registration procedure is legal, not political.
“Rather than trying to blackmail INEC with unfounded accusations, groups that applied for registration as political parties should submit authentic, verifiable documents and meet all registration requirements,” said Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
According to The PUNCH, he reaffirmed that the commission prioritizes the quality of applications above number, and that only those that fully comply with constitutional criteria will be granted
“The number of applications that the commission receives is not as important as the number of applicants that can successfully satisfy the criteria for registration,” according to him.
INEC’s stance comes amid complaints from political stakeholders that the body is purposefully delaying the registration of new parties.
Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, accused the INEC Chairman of stifling opposition operations. Speaking on Arise TV, he stated, “If the current chairman of INEC had been the chairman in 2015, we would not have won.” May God bless Jega. When it was time to register APC, Jega opened the door, and we completed the registration process. The current man, if you follow all of these, will not register you.”
Musician and activist Seun Kuti, who leads the Movement of the People, a political organization inspired by his father Fela Kuti’s legacy, also criticized INEC’s actions.
Since 2018, no new political parties have been founded in Nigeria, and 72 existing parties have been deregistered. This harsh restriction limits citizens’ political options and hinders true democratic representation,” Kuti said in a statement.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babachir Lawal and APC chieftain Salihu Lukman have both expressed worries about INEC’s posture.
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INEC Outlines Tough Conditions for Party Registration
In his remarks to The PUNCH, Oyekanmi explained the extensive standards that groups must follow to obtain party status under the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
This includes:
Submit a letter of intent no later than 12 months before the general election.
Payment of an administrative fee.
Documents are submitted online using an INEC-issued access code.
The required documents include:
The proposed party constitution and manifesto.
Evidence of legitimate takeover of the Abuja headquarters.
A list of members’ names, contact information, and addresses.
Affidavit from the chairman or secretary confirming the validity of documents.
Proof that the National Executive Committee adheres to the Federal Character principle (members from at least 24 states and the FCT).
“Where at any stage of the registration process it is discovered that the same set of persons submitted more than one application, or any aspect of the submission is false, such application shall be invalidated,” according to Oyekanmi.
He informed applicants that the progress of their applications will be kept updated on a regular basis within the time frame specified.
INEC stressed that its operations are strictly governed by the law, and that it will continue to conduct all election processes with transparency and integrity.
“The commission remains committed to upholding constitutional provisions in all electoral processes,” according to the statement.
