INEC: 14 out of 171 associations shortlisted for political party registration
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced that 14 political associations have qualified to advance to the next stage of the registration process as political parties in Nigeria. This determination was made during the Commission’s meeting on Thursday, where they also discussed preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
In a statement issued by Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, INEC disclosed that it had received a total of 171 applications from groups seeking to register as political parties. The Commission assessed each request based on compliance with relevant constitutional and electoral regulations.
“Out of the total applications received, 14 associations have met the requirements to proceed to the next stage, while 157 have not,” the statement explained. INEC intends to communicate this decision to all associations involved within the next 24 hours.
Olumekun further indicated that the interim chairmen and secretaries of the qualified associations are invited to a briefing scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 11:00 am at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
Notably, INEC clarified that meeting these initial criteria does not guarantee full registration. The ultimate decision on each association’s registrability will be made following a verification phase to ensure total adherence to the legal framework.
“In addition to uploading the required information to the portal, the commission will physically verify all claims by each association in line with our Regulations and Guidelines,” the statement added.
Among the 14 associations progressing to the next phase are the African Transformation Party, the All Democratic Alliance, and the Green Future Party, among others. Each has designated interim leaders who will represent them in the upcoming processes.
Source: PUNCH
