The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it has so far received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.
The commission made this known in a statement on Thursday by its National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.
He said 19 new applications were received as of Wednesday, September 3, 2025, bringing the cumulative number to 171.
According to him, the latest details have been published on the commission’s official website and other platforms for public access.
Olumekun noted that the commission is finalising a shortlist of pre-qualified associations that will proceed to the next stage of the registration process. He explained that the review committee has prepared recommendations that will soon be considered by the commission.
While appealing for patience from applicants, Olumekun cautioned against repeated changes to logos, acronyms, and addresses, as well as multiple submissions by a single group. He also expressed concern over instances where interim leaderships had been altered due to defections to other associations or existing political parties, a situation he said was slowing down the review process.
“The commission will treat all applications fairly,” Olumekun assured. He added that INEC would continue to keep Nigerians informed about its activities.