The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday released the list of 110 associations seeking registration as political parties, revealing several irregularities in the submissions.
Among the proposed parties is the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), reportedly backed by a coalition of high-profile politicians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.
Another group reportedly supported by followers of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi is also seeking registration under a similar name, raising concerns over overlapping acronyms.
INEC flagged numerous infractions in the applications. Several associations are using identical acronyms, a clear violation of the commission’s guidelines for political party registration.
Additionally, 40 submissions lacked a Protem National Secretary, five had no Protem National Chairman, seven had neither a chairman nor secretary, four failed to provide an official address, and one application was submitted without a party logo.
INEC also observed that three proposed parties, New Green Generation Party (NGGCP), New Green Congress (NGC), and New Green Coalition Party (NGGCP), listed the same individuals, Mallam Idris A. Abdulkarim and Ambassador Crystal Ikechukwu Ogu, as Protem National Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
A further review showed that the Republican Party of Nigeria submitted two different applications with separate sets of leadership and office locations, one led by Col. Vincent Enemoma Abu and Buhari Yakubu with an address in Mabushi, Abuja, and another by MD Coma and Chief Abu Ali based behind Utako Market.
INEC is expected to screen and assess the applications in accordance with its legal and procedural guidelines before granting or rejecting registration requests.
Also, there are two applications to register the Obiedient People’s Party, while some others either have similar acronyms with deregistered parties or are parties that have been deregistered contrary to the provisions of the guidelines and regulations for registration.
Some others were submitted either by lawyers representing the promoters or the conveners without the names of their officers.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the Commission was currently processing the letters of intent submitted by the associations
Speaking at a meeting with media executives, Prof. Yakubu said those wishing to be registered as political parties should obtain a copy of the handbook containing the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022is already available on the Commission’s website.
The INEC chairman said the commission will upload the names and acronyms of the associations on its website for the sake of transparency.
He said, “Clearly, one of the topical issues on election administration in our country today is the status of the letters of intent we received from associations seeking registration as political parties amidst partisan insinuations in some quarters that the Commission is equivocating on the matter in a manner that compromises our independence. Nothing can be further from the truth.
“Nigerians may recall that the same unfounded accusation was made under similar circumstances 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.
“For the record, the present Commission registered the largest number of political parties in Nigeria strictly following the provision of the electoral legal framework. For 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. After the election, the Commission also deregistered over 70 political parties as provided by law.
“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. We will treat all requests fairly, irrespective of the status of their promoters, be they ordinary or prominent citizens. Nigerians will be fully briefed on the actions taken by the Commission every step of the way.
“As of Monday, 23rd June 2025, the Commission has received letters of intent from 110 associations that wish to register as political parties. We are diligently processing the requests in line with the procedure outlined in the law as well as our Regulations and Guidelines.
“We have acknowledged all requests received so far, except six of them received recently, which will be done before the end of the week. For emphasis, I wish to inform Nigerians, particularly those interested in registering new political parties, that the handbook containing the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022is already available on the Commission’s website.
“Meanwhile, the Commission is today releasing the full list of the 110 associations seeking registration as political parties, indicating their proposed names, acronyms, addresses and the names of their protem Chairmen and Secretaries.
“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”.
The INEC boss also said that the commission has finalised activities for the conduct of bye-elections across the country and for the continuous voter registration, adding that the date for the two activities will be made public within the next 24 hours.
He said, “I am glad to announce that the Commission is now in a position to conduct bye-elections and to resume the nationwide CVR. The Commission met yesterday (Tuesday) and we are finalising the details of the two activities which will be made public in the next 24 hours. As usual, we look forward to your support.”
He also said that preparation for the conduct of the FCT Area Council elections scheduled for February 2026 and the Anambra Governorship election are progressing steadily.
He said, “The Commission will continue to update you on these and other electoral activities. I urge you to monitor these activities. At the same time, I wish to appeal to you to promptly upload your applications for accreditation of media personnel for the Anambra State Governorship election holding on Saturday, 8th November 2025, as soon as the portal opens so that we can process and deliver your accreditation tags well ahead of the election”.
Some of the names on the list include Key of Freedom Party, Absolute Congress, All Grassroot Party, Congress Action Party, United Social Democrats Party, National Action Congress, New Nigeria Congress, United People’s Victory Party, Allied Conservative Congress, People’s Freedom Party, Abundant Social Party, All Nigeria’s Party, Citizens Party of Nigeria, National Freedom Party, Patriots Party and Movement of the People.
They also include People’s National Congress, Alliance of Patriots, African Union Congress, Socialist Equality Party, About Nigeria Party, Africa Reformation Party, Accelerated Africa Development Association, Obedient people’s Party, Zonal Rescue Movement, Zuma Reform, Party for socialist Transformation, Liberation People’s Party, Progressive Obedient Party and Great Nigeria Party.
Others are Great Nigeria Party, National Youth Alliance, National Reform Party, Patriotic Congress Party, Community Alliance Party, Grassroot Alliance Party, Advance Nigeria Congress, All Nigerians Alliance, All Labour Party, Team New Nigeria, About All Nigeria, Nigeria Liberty Movement, National Democratic Party, Citizen United Congress.
Read Also: INEC unveil list of 110 associations seeking registration
There is also the All Gender Party, Polling Unuts Ambassadors of Nigeria, Village Intelligence Party, Great Transformation Party, Alliance Social Party, Nigeria Democratic Alliance, New National Democratic Party, Nourish Democratic People’s Congress, All Youth Reclaim Party, Marina Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Alliance Youth Party of Nigeria, The True Democrats, Democratic People’s Congress, National Democratic Movement, Economic Liberations Party and Grassroot Ambassadors Party.
Also, All for All Congress, People’s Democratic Alliance, United Youths Party of Nigeria, People’s Liberations Party, Democratic Union for Progress, Citizen Democratic Alliance, Africa Action Group, Patriot Alliance Network, Democratic Leadership Party, Pink political Party, Young Motivation and Awareness for Development Forum, Access Party, Young Progressive Empowerment Initiative, Grassroot Ambassadors Party.
There is also the Republican Party of Nigeria, Sceptre Influence Party, Young Democratic Congress, Patriotic Nigeria Party, Far Right Party, Democratic People’s Party, United Citizens Congress, Reset Nigeria, New Nigeria Democratic Party, Save Nigeria People Party, Above All, Alliance for Youth and Women, Rebuild Nigeria Group.
The rest are Citizens Progressive Party, Guardian Party, Abiding Greatness Party, Patriotic Party, Development and Freedom Party, Peace, Unity and Prosper Culture, The populist, New Nigeria Leadership Party, All Allies Alliance, National Action Network, Coalition for Nigerian Democrats, Abundance Africa Alliance, Free will Humanitarian Party, People’s Emancipation Party, People’s Liberations Congress Party and People’s Democratic Congress.
