The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has strongly responded to allegations by a coalition of political stakeholders seeking to register a new political party ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating that no amount of public pressure or blackmail can override constitutional processes.
Speaking to NaijaBlogDaily on Monday, INEC emphasized that party registration in Nigeria is governed by strict constitutional and regulatory requirements, not political sentiments.
INEC Denies Approving “Independent Democrats” and “Peoples Democratic Movement”
INEC also debunked reports claiming that it had recently approved the registration of two new parties — the Independent Democrats and the People’s Democratic Movement. The commission clarified that both parties were deregistered and have not been re-registered.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the commission has not registered any new political party. The current number of registered political parties in Nigeria remains 19,” INEC stated via its official X (Twitter) handle.
Why INEC Is Rejecting Most New Party Applications
Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told NaijaBlogDaily that INEC is focused on the quality of applications, not the number. He explained that only applications that fully comply with the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties would be approved.
According to him, many applications are often rejected or invalidated due to:
- Incomplete or false documents
- Failure to meet federal character representation (at least 24 states and the FCT)
- Lack of a verifiable membership register
- Unapproved party names, acronyms, or symbols
“Applicants should submit authentic, verifiable documents and comply with all the requirements for registration. It is more appropriate to talk about successful applications, not just submissions,” he said.
Coalition Leaders Accuse INEC of Blocking Political Inclusion
Prominent political figures such as former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and APC chieftain Salihu Lukman have criticized INEC’s handling of party registrations.
- Appearing on Arise TV, Amaechi accused INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu of stalling the democratic process:
- “If the current INEC chairman had been in charge in 2015, APC wouldn’t have been registered. May God bless Jega; he gave us a fair playing field.”
Also speaking, Seun Kuti, musician and son of legendary Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, expressed frustration over INEC’s refusal to register Movement of the People, a political group inspired by his father’s legacy.
“Since 2018, no new political party has been registered. This restricts political choices and undermines true democracy,” Seun said in a statement.
INEC Reaffirms Its Guidelines for 2027 Political Party Registration
INEC stressed that any group seeking registration must:
- Submit a letter of intent with proposed name, symbol, and acronym at least 12 months before a general election
- Pay the required administrative fee
- Provide a headquarters address in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
- Submit a detailed membership register, party constitution, and manifesto
- Ensure the National Executive Committee reflects Nigeria’s federal character
- Failure to meet any of these criteria will result in disqualification or invalidation of the application.
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Bottom Line: No New Political Party Registered Yet for 2027
INEC has reaffirmed that only 19 political parties are currently registered in Nigeria, and no new party has been approved as of June 2025.
The commission urged all aspiring political groups to focus on compliance rather than making unsubstantiated allegations.
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