The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially cleared eight political associations to proceed in the ongoing registration of new political parties, while six others were disqualified for failing to meet the required standards. The announcement followed a regular INEC meeting reviewing progress since the last update on September 11.
The registration exercise, which commenced on September 17 with a briefing session for pre-qualified associations, allowed interested groups to submit their documents through a dedicated online portal between September 18 and October 18. Out of the 14 associations initially cleared to participate, eight successfully completed all necessary submissions by October 19.
The associations that met the requirements include the All Democratic Alliance, Citizens Democratic Alliance, Abundance Social Party, African Alliance Party, Democratic Leadership Alliance, Green Future Party, National Democratic Party, and Peoples Freedom Party. Those disqualified are the African Transformation Party (ATP), Advance Nigeria Congress (ANC), Grassroots Initiative Party (GRIP), Liberation People’s Party (LPP), National Reform Party (NRP), and Patriotic Peoples Alliance (PPA).
INEC stated that the next phase will involve thorough verification of all submitted information to ensure compliance with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the commission’s regulations for political parties. The commission emphasized its commitment to fairness, transparency, and the integrity of the registration process.
The Electoral body had earlier received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration, reflecting growing interest in Nigeria’s multiparty democracy. The process continues as INEC works to ensure that all political parties meet the constitutional and legal standards before final approval.
