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Party Registration Hitches: INEC Finds Issues with Names, Requests

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Wednesday, said it received letters of intent from 110 associations seeking registration as political parties.

It, however, flagged clashing names, and irregularities in the registration requests by most associations.

The list of the 110 parties, including proposed names, acronyms, addresses, and names of their protem chairmen and secretaries, was published on INEC’s website and social media platforms on Wednesday.

One of the proposed parties, the All Democratic Alliance, is reportedly supported by a coalition of prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, and former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi.

Another group, believed to be backed by supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, submitted a registration request under a similar name, raising concerns about potential acronym duplication.INEC noted that some of the proposed associations used identical acronyms, which violates the commission’s guidelines.

Additionally, 40 applications were missing a protem national secretary, five lacked a protem national chairman, and seven were missing both. Four submissions did not include an official address, while one application was submitted without a party logo.

Three applications—New Green Generation Party, New Green Congress, and New Green Coalition Party—listed the same individuals, Mallam Idris Abdulkarim and Amb Crystal Ikechukwu Ogu, as protem national chairman and secretary, respectively.

INEC also discovered that the Republican Party of Nigeria submitted two separate applications, each with different leadership and addresses. One was led by Col Vincent Enemoma Abu and Buhari Yakubu with an office in Mabushi, Abuja, while the other, led by MD Coma and Chief Abu Ali, listed an address behind Utako Market.

Also, there were two separate applications to register a party under the name Obidient Peoples Party.

Some applications had acronyms similar to those of previously deregistered parties, and several submissions were made by legal representatives or conveners without including the names of party officers, contrary to INEC’s regulations.

The list of proposed party names included a wide range of entities such as Key of Freedom Party, Absolute Congress, All Grassroot Party, Congress Action Party, United Social Democrats Party, National Action Congress, New Nigeria Congress, United People’s Victory Party, Allied Conservative Congress, Peoples Freedom Party, Abundant Social Party, All Nigeria’s Party, Citizens Party of Nigeria, National Freedom Party, Patriots Party, and Movement of the People.

Also included are the Peoples National Congress, Alliance of Patriots, African Union Congress, Socialist Equality Party, About Nigeria Party, Africa Reformation Party, Accelerated Africa Development Association, Obedient People’s Party, Zonal Rescue Movement, Zuma Reform, Party for Socialist Transformation, Liberation Peoples Party, Progressive Obedient Party, and Great Nigeria Party.

Other submissions feature names such as National Youth Alliance, National Reform Party, Patriotic Congress Party, Community Alliance Party, Grassroot Alliance Party, Advance Nigeria Congress, All Nigerians Alliance, All Labour Party, Team New Nigeria, About All Nigeria, Nigeria Liberty Movement, National Democratic Party, and Citizen United Congress.

Additional proposed parties include All Gender Party, Polling Units Ambassadors of Nigeria, Village Intelligence Party, Great Transformation Party, Alliance Social Party, Nigeria Democratic Alliance, New National Democratic Party, Nourish Democratic Peoples Congress, All Youth Reclaim Party, Marina Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Alliance Youth Party of Nigeria, The True Democrats, Democratic People’s Congress, National Democratic Movement, Economic Liberations Party, and Grassroot Ambassadors Party.

Other applications were filed under names such as All for All Congress, Peoples Democratic Alliance, United Youths Party of Nigeria, Peoples Liberations Party, Democratic Union for Progress, Citizen Democratic Alliance, Africa Action Group, Patriot Alliance Network, Democratic Leadership Party, Pink Political Party, Young Motivation and Awareness for Development Forum, Access Party, and Young Progressive Empowerment Initiative.

Further entries include the Republican Party of Nigeria, Sceptre Influence Party, Young Democratic Congress, Patriotic Nigeria Party, Far Right Party, Democratic Peoples Party, United Citizens Congress, Reset Nigeria, New Nigeria Democratic Party, Save Nigeria People Party, Above All, Alliance for Youth and Women, and Rebuild Nigeria Group.

The remainder of the proposed names comprise the Citizens Progressive Party, Guardian Party, Abiding Greatness Party, Patriotic Party, Development and Freedom Party, Peace, Unity and Prosper Culture, The Populist, New Nigeria Leadership Party, All Allies Alliance, National Action Network, Coalition for Nigerian Democrats, Abundance Africa Alliance, Free Will Humanitarian Party, People’s Emancipation Party, Peoples Liberations Congress Party, and Peoples Democratic Congress.

Speaking earlier during a consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, stated that as of June 23, 2025, the commission had received 110 letters and was diligently processing them in accordance with electoral laws and guidelines.

“As of Monday, 23rd June 2025, the commission has received letters of intent from 110 associations that wish to register as political parties.

“We are diligently processing the requests in line with the procedure outlined in the law, as well as our regulations and guidelines.

“We have acknowledged all requests received so far except six of them received recently, which will be done before the end of the week,” he said.

Addressing concerns about impartiality, Yakubu dismissed claims that the commission was compromising its independence.

“We will treat all requests fairly, irrespective of the status of their promoters, be they ordinary or prominent citizens,” he said.

The INEC chair said the commission had acknowledged all but six of the letters received, adding that the handbook containing the 2022 regulations and guidelines for political parties was available on the commission’s website.

He also announced that the commission was ready to conduct outstanding by-elections and resume nationwide Continuous Voter Registration.

“I am glad to announce that the commission is now in a position to conduct the by-elections and to resume the nationwide CVR.

“The commission met yesterday and we are finalising the details of the two activities which will be made public in the next 24 hours,” he added.

He thanked the media for their continued support, adding, “We look forward to your support.”

The meeting also covered current electoral activities.

The INEC chairman noted that primaries for the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory were ongoing and scheduled to conclude by June 30, 2025.

He said elections would take place across 68 constituencies, covering chairmen and deputies for six area councils and 62 wards.

“As you are aware, the election will be held in 68 constituencies made up of chairmen and their deputies for the six area councils, namely Abaji, the Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali, as well as 62 wards drawn on the basis of 10 wards for each area council, except AMAC, which has 12 wards on account of its population.

“The full delimitation details for the FCT are available on our website,” the chairman noted.

The upcoming Anambra State governorship election, set for November 8, 2025, was another major focus during the meeting.

Campaigning began on June 11 and will continue until midnight on November 6.Yakubu urged media personnel to promptly apply for accreditation to facilitate election coverage.

“I wish to appeal to you to promptly upload your applications for accreditation of media personnel for the Anambra State governorship election as soon as the portal opens,” he said.

News

Osun PDP Congress: Thugs Arrested, Alleged Governor Makinde Mobilised Them

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Scores of Hoodlums Arrested, confessed Governor Makinde mobilised them. Members of the Oyo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) dominated today’s governorship primaries of the PDP held at Osogbo, investigation and eyewitness accounts at the venue have revealed.

Buses filled with PDP members were seen entering from both Iwo and Ikire end of Osun state last night and early this morning with many of the buses stopping at Adolak hotel, the venue of the congress.

A check through the hall revealed that Osun PDP members were not in attendance even though the Ibadan based zonal youth leader of the PDP was identified as the anchor mobilised of the Oyo state PDP members for the Osun Congress.

A chat with some of the individuals at the Congress confirmed that they were mostly from Oyo state with some of them actually confirming that they were recruited to attend.

The presence of Police men and women from Oyo state who provided security cover for the mobilised party members.

Some political thugs were however arrested and they narrated how they were mobilised from the Government House in Oyo state.

On why Oyo PDP members had to be mobilised for the Osun Congress, a party chieftain from Oyo state who was also present said “Osun PDP did not conduct the mandatory three adhoc delegates to vote at the Congress.

“ So we fill the vacancies with our people from Oyo state. We cannot allow PDP to die here. That is why we have to so mobilise”, the source noted.

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Politics

Osun PDP Governorship Primary: Adebayo Adedamola Emerges Winner

Adedamola polled 919 votes out of 957 cast in the primary held today in Osogbo, the state capital.

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•Adebayo Adedamola

Adebayo Adedamola on Tuesday emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the Osun 2026 election.

Adedamola polled 919 votes out of 957 cast in the primary held today in Osogbo, the state capital.

The chairman of the primary, Humphrey Abba, announced the result, stating, ”Void votes 20. We told you earlier that one of the aspirants withdrew.

“The candidate that got the remaining votes is Adebayo Adedamola with 919 votes and stands elected and returned.”

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PDP Tasks President Tinubu on Protecting Democracy At Home

Although the President is not expected to assist opposition parties, he has a constitutional duty to ensure that Nigeria’s political space remains free, open, and competitive.

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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has enjoined President Bola Tinubu to replicate protection of opposition candidates in Nigeria, referencing the granting of asylum and providing protection to Mr. Fernando Dia Da Costa, the opposition presidential candidate in the recently concluded Guinea-Bissau Presidential Election.

According to information credited to the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, and his Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the decision was taken to shield Mr. Da Costa from imminent threats to his life, safeguard the democratic aspirations of the people of Guinea-Bissau, and reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to regional peace, stability, and conflict de-escalation in the sub-region.

Comrade Ini Ememobong, PDP National Publicity Secretary, while noting that Nigeria’s intervention, which is aimed at preserving peace and democracy in Guinea-Bissau and, by extension, the West African sub-region, the PDP urges President Tinubu to apply the same democratic principles at home.

This includes checking and curtailing the activities of anti-democratic forces within his cabinet and political machinery, who openly orchestrate, fund, and engineer crises in major opposition parties.

Although the President is not expected to assist opposition parties, he has a constitutional duty to ensure that Nigeria’s political space remains free, open, and competitive.

Presently, this space is being constricted through coercion of elected officials to defect to the ruling party and the sponsorship of crises in opposition parties.

The philosophical underpinning that catalysed Nigeria’s intervention in Guinea-Bissau should also guide the President’s conduct domestically to safeguard Nigeria’s electoral democracy from decline and prevent the slide toward a one-party state.

The President must act promptly in defence of democracy in Nigeria.

He cannot present himself as a defender of democracy in the sub-region while enabling anti-democratic practices at home that undermine democratic institutions and processes.

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