Uncertainty Looms as INEC Holds Back on New Party Registrations

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to take action on 104 applications submitted by various groups and associations seeking registration as political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. The applications, many of which were filed after the 2023 polls, remain under review, with INEC yet to begin the formal verification process.

Among the applicants is the National Opposition Coalition Group, which plans to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s expected re-election bid under a proposed platform, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA). Sources within the coalition suggest that forming a new party is a strategic move to avoid the alleged infiltration of existing opposition parties by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Comrade Salihu Lukman, a former APC national vice chairman, revealed during a Trust TV appearance that over 70 groups had submitted applications to INEC but were met with silence. According to him, INEC’s failure to issue acknowledgements undermines the legal framework, which provides that an application is deemed approved if unaddressed within 90 days of acknowledgment. “What is happening now is that INEC is not even acknowledging receipt. That’s a tactic to stall the process,” Lukman said.

Supporting this claim, Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, who filed an application on behalf of the Patriotic Peoples Party (PPP) on March 28, 2025, said INEC responded over a month later, stating that the registration portal was not yet open. He described the delay as a procedural failure that obstructs democratic participation.

INEC maintains it has not concluded the verification of applications, with officials stating that the commission plans to automate the registration process and will notify applicants once the portal is ready. A senior official, speaking anonymously, insisted that responses had been sent to applicants within regulatory timelines and rejected claims of deliberate inaction.

The commission also denied speculation that it was reluctant to register new parties due to fears of potential litigation or political backlash. It clarified that any future deregistration of existing parties would be guided by law and national interest.

INEC’s reluctance to move forward comes at a critical time, as internal preparations for the 2027 elections—including primaries—are expected to begin by mid-2026. Legal experts and political analysts have voiced concerns that the delays may eliminate the chance for newly proposed parties to participate meaningfully in the electoral process.

Section 222 of the Nigerian Constitution requires political associations to register their national officers with INEC before they can operate as parties. Many applicants, including groups proposing names like the Pink Peoples Party, Arewa Consultative Party, and Team New Nigeria Party, argue that they have fulfilled all constitutional and legal requirements.

Some political party leaders and civil society actors believe that INEC’s handling of the registration process reflects a broader problem of democratic suppression. Barrister Kenneth Udeze, National Chairman of Action Alliance, believes the likelihood of new party registration is slim due to the approaching timeline for electoral activities and the fragile state of many existing parties.

CSO leaders have criticized INEC’s gatekeeping role. Ezenwa Nwagwu of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA) argued that forming a political party is a constitutional right and should not be subject to bureaucratic bottlenecks. “INEC should focus on conditions for appearing on the ballot, not on determining who forms a party,” he said.

Similarly, Ene Obi, a former convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, called for a review of what qualifies as a political party, pointing out that many currently registered parties lack visible structure or political activity.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has introduced a bill that seeks to strip INEC of its role in registering political parties. Co-sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and lawmaker Marcus Onobun, the bill proposes an independent body to oversee party registration, regulation, and funding, and includes the creation of a Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.

Historically, INEC has been selective in registering and deregistering parties. In 2020, it deregistered 74 of the then 91 parties for failing to meet performance benchmarks, leaving 18. A Supreme Court ruling later reinstated the Youth Party, bringing the number of registered parties to 19.

INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, defended the commission’s actions, stating that all applicants must meet legal and procedural criteria before registration can proceed. He stressed that verifying the authenticity of documents and information is crucial to the process.

Political experts argue that Nigeria’s democracy would benefit from allowing more parties to emerge if they meet constitutional requirements. Professor Adele Jinadu, former president of the International Political Science Association, noted that the law does not impose a cap on the number of parties. Dr Dauda Garuba of the Centre for Democracy and Development emphasized that allowing political parties to thrive independently would deepen democratic culture.