INEC says 171 groups seeking registration as political parties
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed on Thursday that the number of associations now seeking to attain political party status in the country has risen to 171, following the submission of 19 additional letters of intent.
This was contained in a statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, who said that the updated list has been published on the commission’s website and other official platforms, adding that assessment of the applications and recommendations have been submitted by a review committee set up by INEC.
“Since our last update, 19 more letters of intent have been received, bringing the total to 171 as of September 3, 2025. Details of the latest submissions are available on our website.
“As earlier announced, a shortlist of pre-qualified associations is being finalised for the next stage of the registration process,” he said.
While assuring applicants of transparency and urging them to exercise patience during the registration process, the Commission remarked: “We appeal to associations to remain patient as we conclude the process.
“Frequent changes to logos, acronyms, and addresses, or multiple applications by one association, only cause delays. In some cases, interim leaders have defected to other associations or existing parties, further slowing down the process.”
“We will treat all applications equitably and continue to update Nigerians on every step,” the statement added.
