ABUJA, Nigeria — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received letters of intent from 110 associations seeking registration as political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed that the commission received the applications on Monday, June 23, 2025, and is currently reviewing them in line with established legal and regulatory frameworks.
“We are diligently processing the requests in line with the procedure outlined in the law as well as our regulations and guidelines,” Yakubu said.
“We have acknowledged all requests received so far except six of them received recently, which will be done before the end of the week.”
The influx of new political interest groups reflects a growing momentum in Nigeria’s political landscape as stakeholders begin early preparations for the 2027 polls.
INEC has not yet released the full list of the associations but confirmed that all letters will be vetted based on the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and the Commission’s internal criteria.
Under Nigerian law, for any association to be recognised as a political party, it must meet several requirements, including the submission of a formal application, evidence of a national spread, a functional secretariat in Abuja, and compliance with financial and constitutional disclosures.
Yakubu’s announcement comes amid increased political realignments and the emergence of new coalitions, many of which are reportedly driven by dissatisfaction with the major parties.
INEC has yet to indicate how many of the 110 groups are likely to meet the threshold for registration.
However, the Commission has maintained that no shortcuts will be allowed in the process.
See the full list of the organisations below:
