The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that it has received 12 fresh applications from associations seeking to register as political parties, bringing the total number of applications under review to 122.
This development followed the commission’s earlier disclosure on June 23 that it had received 110 applications.
The newly listed associations are Democratic Alternative Party, I Love Nigeria, Integrity Party of Nigeria, National Youth Progressive Party, Providence People’s Congress, Democratic Nigeria, United Nigeria Development Party, Alliance for a United Nigeria, African Independent Alliance, Greater Nigeria Movement, African Liberation Party, and Nigeria Farmers & Traders Progressive Party.
According to a statement released on Thursday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, INEC emphasised that the process remained transparent and fair to all applicants.
“On Monday last week (23rd June 2025), the commission announced that it had received applications from 110 associations seeking registration as political parties.
“We also assured Nigerians that we will be giving regular updates on the matter. The commission is processing these applications transparently and in fairness to all applicants.
“Meanwhile, the commission has since received 12 more applications for registration as political parties as of yesterday, Wednesday 2nd July 2025, bringing the total number of applications to 122.
“The list of the new applications by names of associations, their acronyms, addresses, and interim chairmen and secretaries has been uploaded to our website and other platforms for public information.
“We will respond to these applicants in line with the Electoral Act and Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022” he said.
INEC also noted that it had observed internal changes within some applying associations, including the replacement of an interim secretary in one case due to defection to another association.
The commission urged all applicant associations to maintain consistent leadership and contact information throughout the registration process to avoid delays.
“However, the commission notes that one association has already changed its interim Secretary as a result of defection to another association.
“To facilitate the consideration of these applications, the commission appeals to associations to maintain consistency of their proposed leadership and addresses so that they do not by their actions cause a delay to the timely consideration of their applications,” the statement added.
In a related development, INEC released Supplementary Regulations and Guidelines regarding the review of election results under Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.
The section allows the commission to review declarations or returns made involuntarily or in violation of existing laws and regulations.
“The provision to Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022 empowers the commission to review declarations and returns in elections that are not made voluntarily or done contrary to the law, regulations and guidelines for the election.
“Consequently, there have been many interpretations of Section 65 of the Electoral Act, making it necessary for the commission to use its powers under the law to issue regulations, guidelines or manuals to give effect to the provisions of the Act and for its administration,” the statement added.
It said clear procedures and timelines had been provided, the details of which were contained in Supplementary No.1 to the main regulations and guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022.
“As approved by the commission, the supplementary regulations and guidelines have been uploaded to the commission’s website and other platforms for public information,” the statement noted.
Also, INEC continued to flag several infractions in the applications received so far. Some associations submitted identical acronyms, while others lacked key party officers.
Forty applications were missing a protem national secretary, five lacked a protem chairman, and seven had neither.
Also, four associations failed to provide an official address, and one application was submitted without a party logo.
Notably, three proposed parties — the New Green Generation Party, New Green Congress, and New Green Coalition Party — listed the same individuals as interim leaders.
The Republican Party of Nigeria submitted two separate applications with different leadership and addresses.
INEC reaffirmed that all applications would be evaluated following the Electoral Act and its internal regulations before approval or rejection.