The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pushed back against mounting criticism over its handling of new political party registrations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Naijaonpoint reports that the electoral body insisted that compliance with constitutional and regulatory provisions remains non-negotiable.
In a firm statement on Wednesday, the commission dismissed online reports claiming it had registered two new parties — Independent Democrats and Peoples Democratic Movement — as false, urging the public to disregard such information.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the commission has not yet registered any new party. The current number of registered political parties in Nigeria is 19. Nothing has been added,” INEC stated via its official 𝕏 handle.
INEC noted that both political groups mentioned were originally registered in August 2013 but were among the 72 deregistered in February 2020, in line with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution.
‘No Registration by Blackmail’ — INEC Warns
Amid pressure from various political figures and coalitions seeking registration, INEC stressed that the party registration process is a legal, not political, exercise.
“Rather than trying to blackmail INEC with unfounded accusations, groups that applied for registration as political parties should submit authentic, verifiable documents and comply with all the requirements for registration,” said Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu.
According to The PUNCH, he reiterated that the commission prioritises the quality of applications over their quantity, and only those that fully meet constitutional guidelines would be approved.
“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,” he added.
INEC’s position comes amid allegations by political stakeholders that the commission is deliberately stalling the registration of new parties.
Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, accused the INEC Chairman of blocking opposition efforts. Speaking on Arise TV, he said: “The current chairman of INEC, if he were the chairman of INEC in 2015, we would not have won. May God bless Jega… When we were to register APC, Jega opened the door and we complied with the registration requirements. The current man, if you comply with all these, he would not register you.”
Musician and activist Seun Kuti, who leads Movement of the People — a political group inspired by his father Fela Kuti’s legacy — also criticised INEC’s conduct.
“Since 2018, no new political party has been registered in Nigeria, while 72 existing parties have been deregistered. This severe restriction limits citizens’ political choices and undermines true democratic representation,” Kuti said in a statement.
Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and APC chieftain Salihu Lukman have similarly voiced concerns about INEC’s posture.
INEC Outlines Tough Conditions for Party Registration
In his remarks to The PUNCH, Oyekanmi outlined the comprehensive conditions associations must meet to gain party status under the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
These include:
Submission of a letter of intent not later than 12 months before the general election.
Payment of an administrative fee.
Online submission of documents via an access code issued by INEC.
Required documents include:
The proposed party’s constitution and manifesto.
Evidence of lawful occupation of headquarters in Abuja.
A register of members containing names, contact information, and addresses.
Affidavit from the chairman or secretary verifying the authenticity of documents.
Proof that the National Executive Committee reflects 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,” Oyekanmi warned.
He assured that applicants are consistently updated on the status of their submissions within the stipulated timeline.
INEC emphasised that its actions are guided strictly by law, and it will continue to conduct all electoral matters with transparency and integrity.
“The commission remains committed to upholding constitutional provisions in all electoral processes,” it said.