As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, 78 associations have submitted applications to the Independent National Electoral Commission seeking to be registered as political parties. A senior management official from INEC, who requested anonymity, confirmed this development to Sunday Tribune in Abuja.
The source revealed that relevant departments within INEC are currently reviewing the applications to determine which associations meet the necessary requirements for eligibility to be registered as political parties. The official explained that only those that pass a rigorous examination will be selected for registration.
Sunday Tribune investigations revealed that the associations must meet several criteria to qualify. These include having a national spread, with a National Executive Committee that adheres to the Federal Character principle. Additionally, the constitution and manifesto of the associations must align with the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy, as outlined in Nigeria’s Constitution.
Furthermore, the name, acronym, symbol, and motto of the association seeking to become a political party must not violate provisions set forth in the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
INEC’s Guidelines and Provisions for Political Parties outline several key criteria to be verified before granting registration. Among other checks, INEC must ensure that the National Executive Committee of the association reflects the Federal Character principle, requiring membership from at least 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The association’s constitution and manifesto must also comply with the Constitution of Nigeria, the Electoral Act of 2022, and the relevant regulations.
Additionally, the association’s name, acronym, motto, and symbol must not infringe upon the Constitution or the Electoral Act. The constitution and manifesto must also align with Nigeria’s Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy.
According to the guidelines, any application found to be fraudulent, or if it is discovered that the same individuals have submitted multiple applications, will be invalidated.
Currently, 19 political parties are registered and operating in Nigeria. This number increased from 18 to 19 in July of the previous year when INEC reversed its decision to deregister the Youth Party following a Supreme Court ruling.
With increasing internal divisions within the major opposition parties, sources have indicated that discussions are underway among key figures to form a united coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in the upcoming general elections. One of the possibilities being explored is the formation of a new political party, independent of the currently fractured opposition groups.
According to the INEC Guidelines and Provisions for Political Parties, some of the claims to be verified by its relevant departments ahead of an association registration as party are: “The commission, in verifying the claims of an association, shall, among other things, ascertain whether: The National Executive Committee of the association reflects the Federal Character Principle which requires that members of the National Executive Committee must come from at least 24 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
“The constitution and manifesto of the association comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and these Regulations and Guidelines.
“The name, acronym, motto, or symbol does not offend the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and these Regulations and Guidelines.
“The constitution and manifesto of the association conform to the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principle of State Policy as contained in Chapter Il of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”
The regulation further stated that “Where, at any stage of the registration process, it is discovered that the same set of persons submitted more than one application, or that any aspect of the submission is false, such an application shall be invalidated.”
