…says INEC receives 171 applications
by Mercy Peter
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan has disclosed that the commission will soon announce names of new political parties.
Amupitan said the commission received 171 applications from groups for registration as political parties.
Amupitan made the disclosure during the first Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Civil Society Organisations on Wednesday 4 February 2026 in Abuja.
The INEC Chairman, said most of the groups failed to meet up with the laid down rules and guidelines.
He said the successful ones will be announced soon.
He however did not reveal the names and figures of the successful ones.
Currently there are 18 registered political parties in the country.
He said: “You will recall that the Commission received a total of 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.
“The associations were assessed in line with Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 79(1), (2) and (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Clause 2 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.
“Several of the Associations were unable to fulfil the constitutional requirements and the requirements of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
“The successful association(s) will soon be announced by the Commission.”
