-
Declares readiness to conduct by-elections, CVR
By Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has listed Obidient Peoples Party (OPP), Progressive Obedients Party (POP), Advanced Democratic Alliance (ADA), and 107 other political associations seeking registration as political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Commission’s Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure in his remarks at the second regular consultative meeting with Media Executives held at the national headquarters of the electoral umpire in Abuja on Wednesday.
He also revealed that arrangements have been concluded to conduct the outstanding by-elections and resume the conduct of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
The electoral umpire boss lamented the partisan insinuations in some quarters that it is equivocating on the matter in a manner that compromises its independence, stressing that nothing can be further from the truth.
Yakubu 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 of the actions taken by the commission every step of the way. As at 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 2022 is already available on the commission’s website.
“The commission has released 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 has been uploaded to our website and social media platforms,” Yakubu explained.
On the by-elections and resumption of CVR, the INEC boss said: “I cannot conclude my remarks without briefing you on the conduct of outstanding by-elections and the resumption of the CVR. I am glad to announce that the commission is now in a position to conduct the by-elections and to resume the nationwide CVR. The commission met on Tuesday this week, 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 appealed.
Topping the list of the political associations are OPP, POP, and ADA. While the OPP, with Mr Barry Avotu Johnson as its protem national chairman, is believed to be loyal to Peter Obi, ADA, the proposed political platform by members of the anti-Tinubu coalition, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, and former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, are also believed to be behind it.
The full list of the associations seeking INEC registration as political parties includes:
Key of Freedom Party, Absolute Congress, All Grassroots Party, Congress Action Party, United Social Democrats Party, National Action Congress Party, Great Alliance Party, New Nigeria Congress, United Peoples Victory Party, Allied Conservative Congress, Peoples Freedom Party, All Nigerians’ Party, Abundant Social Party, Citizens Party of Nigeria, National Freedom Party, Patriots Party, Movement of the People, Peoples National Congress, African Union Congress, Alliance of Patriots, Socialist Equality Party, About Nigeria Party, African Reformation Party, Accelerated African Development Association, Zonal Rescue Movement, Zuma Reform, Party for Socialist Transformation, Liberation People’s Party, Great Nigeria Party, National Youth Alliance, National Reform Party, Patriotic Congress Party, Community Alliance Party, Grassroot Alliance Party, Advance Nigeria Congress, All Nigerians Alliance, Team New Nigeria, and All Labour’s Party.
Others are: New Green Generation Coalition Party, New Green Congress, New Green Coalition Party, About All (Nigerian), Nigerian Liberty Movement, National Democratic Party, Citizen United Congress, All Gender Party, Polling Unit 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, LA RIBA Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Alliance Youth Party of Nigeria, The True Democrats, Democratic Peoples Congress, National Democratic Movement, Economic Liberation Party, Grassroot Ambassador’s Party, All For All Congress, People Democratic Alliance, United National Youths Party of Nigeria, Peoples Liberation Party, Democratic Union for Progress, Citizen Democratic Alliance, African Action Group, Patriots Alliance Network, Democratic Leadership Party, Pink Political Party, Young Motivation & Awareness for Development Forum, and Access Party, Youth Progressive Empowerment Initiative, Grassroot Ambassadors’ Party, Republican Party of Nigeria, Sceptre Influence Party, Young Democratic Congress, Patriotic Nigerians Party, Far-Right Party, Democratic People’s Party, Unitedreligion, United Citizens Congress, Reset Nigeria, New Nigeria Democratic Party, Save Nigeria People Party, Above All, Alliance for Youth and Women Party, Rebuild Nigeria Group, Citizen Progressive Party, and Good Guardian Party.
The remaining political associations are Abiding Greatness Party, Patriotic Peoples’ Party, Development & Freedom Party, Peace, Unity & Prosperity Culture, The Populist Party, New Nigeria Leadership Party, All Allies Alliance, National Action Network, Coalition for Nigerian Democrats, Republican Party of Nigeria, Abundance Africa Alliance, Freewill Humanitarian Party, Peoples Emancipation Party, Peoples Liberation Congress Party, Peoples Democratic Congress, and All Democratic Alliance.