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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.

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JUST IN: INEC Urges Lagos Residents: Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute to Participate in CVR

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Lagos State has urged eligible residents to avoid last minute rush in the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise which commences nationwide on Monday, August 18, 2025.

Prof. Ayobami Salami, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, made this appeal at a news conference on Tuesday, to announce the Commission’s readiness for the process in Lagos.

Salami said: “Don’t wait until the last hours. We must reduce the rush towards the end of the exercise.

“We appeal to all eligible residents to come and use this opportunity now before the rush begins. The exercise for now, will take place at the state secretariat, 6 Birrel Avenue, Sabo-Yaba, Lagos as well as all the 20 Local Government offices of INEC.”

According to him, the CVR exercise is a crucial component of the electoral process, aimed at ensuring that all eligible citizens are registered to vote.

He said that the exercise would start August 18, 2025, and that online registration could be done anywhere before the physical biometric capturing, beginning August 25, 2025. The exercise is expected to end on August 30, 2026.

The REC said that those eligible to partake in the process include adult Nigerians without prior registration, those that had attained 18 years of age within the time frame of the exercise.

According to him, others are those willing to replace their damaged or lost Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, and those willing to transfer their voting rights to other Polling Units, Registration Areas (Wards), Local Governments or States.

Salami said that residents with claims of lost cards, requesting new cards must present a police report or court affidavit for such claims to be accepted.

Salami said that INEC was counting on the media for a successful CVR in the area of public awareness, education, sensitivities, monitoring and reporting as well as promotion of transparency.

According to him, the CVR exercise is open to all eligible citizens and the registration remains a crucial step in ensuring that citizens’ voices are heard.

The REC also called for collaboration of other stakeholders to ensure the success of the exercise.

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Politics

ADC Names Jackie Wayas Deputy National Publicity Secretary

As part of the Obidient movement, Wayas leveraged grassroots activism and digital advocacy to mobilize millions of young Nigerians, showcasing the power of fresh ideas in shaping national discourse.

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• ADC deputy national publicity secretary , Jackie Wayas

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appointed Jackie Wayas as its new deputy national publicity secretary.

Previously, Wayas served as a political strategist with the Labour Party, where she played a pivotal role in the 2023 presidential campaign.

As deputy national publicity secretary, Wayas will be responsible for crafting and executing the party’s media strategies, articulating its reform agenda, and connecting with millions of Nigerians eager for a new political direction.

Wayas, a seasoned strategic communicator and advocate for inclusive democracy, will lead the ADC’s conventional media engagement efforts—an influential role in shaping public perception and promoting the party’s vision for good governance.

Her appointment has been regarded as both a symbolic and practical move toward ensuring that women and young people play central roles in Nigeria’s political future.

Her journey into this position underscores the shifting dynamics of political leadership in the country.

As part of the Obidient movement, Wayas leveraged grassroots activism and digital advocacy to mobilize millions of young Nigerians, showcasing the power of fresh ideas in shaping national discourse.

Through her work in the Labour Party’s national organizing office, Wayas developed expertise in political mobilization, stakeholder engagement, and public advocacy.

For Wayas, the appointment is not just a personal achievement but a rallying call for youth and women to take up leadership roles

. “We can no longer be spectators,” she has often remarked in public forums. “Our voices, our ideas, and our leadership are essential to building the Nigeria we all want.”

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Politics

ADC Rivers Membership hits 800,000

“As for Rivers State, we have the likes of Rotimi Amaechi, who is a former governor, and Celestine Omehia, who is also a former governor. The former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, is also a member of the ADC.

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Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress in Rivers State, Luckyman Egila, declared that the party’s membership is growing by leaps and bounds in the state.

In a statement, Egila revealed that the party has current membership strength of over 800,000 and counting.

He described the party as a beautiful bride, adding that prominent politicians, including two former governors and two senators, had officially joined and received their party membership cards.

He added:

“The ADC, as of today, is a beautiful bride that is receiving key politicians into its fold. “We are a moving train because, politically, we don’t see anyone capable of stopping the ADC from clinching whatever ticket or office we want in Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.

“As for Rivers State, we have the likes of Rotimi Amaechi, who is a former governor, and Celestine Omehia, who is also a former governor. The former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, is also a member of the ADC.

“We also have Senator Lee Maeba and Senator Andrew Uchendu as members of our party. Of course, you should know that Senator Andrew Uchendu is the Vice Chairman, South-South of the ADC as of today.”

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