The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that 110 associations have submitted letters of intent to be registered as political parties ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during the commission’s quarterly meeting with media executives.
“As of Monday, the commission had received letters of intent from 110 associations that wish to register as political parties,” Yakubu disclosed, adding that all applications are being processed “in line with the procedure outlined in the law as well as our regulations and guidelines.”
He noted that all requests received so far have been acknowledged except for six which were submitted recently. “They will be done before the end of the week,” he assured.
Yakubu also pointed interested individuals to the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022, which he said is already available on the commission’s website.
In response to claims that the commission may be favouring some groups over others in the registration process, the INEC chairman dismissed such notions, stressing the commission’s impartiality.
He said: “We will treat all requests fairly irrespective of the status of their promoters, be they ordinary or prominent citizens.”
Yakubu recalled similar allegations made in 2013 when critics claimed that the commission was working against the merger of opposition parties. “A similar unfounded accusation was made in 2013 that the commission was not keen on the proposed merger of political parties because INEC had ‘merged with the ruling party’ at the time.”
He defended the commission’s record, stating that INEC had previously registered the highest number of political parties in Nigeria’s history.
“For the record, the present commission registered the largest number of political parties in Nigeria and strictly followed the provisions of the electoral legal framework. In the 2019 general election, there were 91 political parties and 73 presidential candidates. The commission was criticised in some quarters for registering too many political parties,” he noted.
Following the 2019 polls, over 70 parties were later de-registered based on legal provisions.
Yakubu reassured Nigerians that INEC remains committed to fairness and due process. “We wish to reassure Nigerians that under the current situation, we will continue to be guided by law and act with fairness to all associations seeking registration as political parties.”
He also revealed that the full list of the 110 associations, including their proposed names, acronyms, addresses, and the names of their protem chairpersons and secretaries, would be published later on Wednesday.
“For transparency and public information, the list will be uploaded to our website and social media platforms shortly, while hard copies are included in your folders for this meeting,” Yakubu said.
