Politics
Party Registration Hitches: INEC Finds Issues with Names, Requests
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.
Politics
Soludo, Deputy receive certificate of returns from INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued certificates of return to Anambra State Governor Professor Chukwuma Soludo and his deputy, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, for having won the November 8 governorship election.
The certificates were presented by Kenneth Ikeagu, INEC’s National Commissioner supervising the Anambra election, at the Commission’s state headquarters in Awka.
Soludo, accompanied by his deputy, their spouses, aides, and supporters, thanked INEC and security agencies for ensuring a free and fair election.“I congratulate INEC and its new chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan. We are delighted that his first outing was in Anambra, and it was widely celebrated.
The security agencies stood firm to ensure the will of the people prevailed,” Soludo said.
He praised the historic voter turnout and the scale of his victory.
“Almost 600,000 people participated. For the first time in Anambra’s history, a candidate secured 73% of the total votes, winning 98% of all wards and 99% of all polling units. In several local governments, we did not lose a single polling unit.”
News
Jarigbe dumps PDP for APC, cites deep division in party
Another senator elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, representing Cross River North, has officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Jarigbe’s defection was formally announced on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday through a letter read by the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau.
In his letter, the lawmaker explained that his exit from the PDP followed months of internal crises and irreconcilable divisions that had crippled the party both at the national and state levels.
“I rise to formally notify you and the distinguished leadership of the Senate of my resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party, on whose platform I was elected to represent the good people of Cross River North Senatorial District,” Jarigbe wrote.
“The decision came after deep and thoughtful reflection on the current state of my former party.
“It is with regret that I note the persistent and deep-seated divisions and the deliberate factionalisation at both the national and state levels as the primary reasons for my departure.
”Jarigbe said he decided to align with the ruling party to continue delivering effective representation to his constituents.
“In the light of the foregoing, and in the best interest of my constituents, I have chosen to join the All Progressives Congress,” he added.
“I believe that under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu and the steady guidance of the National Assembly, the APC provides a stable and progressive platform to deliver the democratic dividends expected by the people of Cross River North.”
Following the announcement, Barau welcomed Jarigbe into the party, saying, “You are most welcome. Please welcome him,” as senators across party lines applauded.
Jarigbe’s defection further strengthens the APC’s grip on Cross River State, where all three senatorial seats are now occupied by members of the ruling party.
The other two senators from the state are Eteng Williams (Cross River Central) and Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South).
His defection also increased the number of APC senators to 76, PDP 25, Labour Party 4, APGA 2, SDP 1, and NNPP 1, totalling 109.
His move comes amid renewed turmoil within the PDP, which has been engulfed in a leadership crisis that has split the party into two factions.
The rift pits loyalists of Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum against a group allied with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
The party’s internal conflict deepened after a Federal High Court in Abuja halted its planned national convention, initially scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Politics
Court order Halts PDP National Convention
A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a second order in just two weeks, preventing the PDP from holding its 2025 National Convention in Ibadan.
Justice Peter Lifu issued the order on Tuesday, effectively blocking the convention that was planned for November 15th and 16th.
The court also barred the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from supervising, monitoring, or recognizing any outcome of that gathering.
The ruling followed a suit filed by former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido. Lamido, a founding member of the PDP, told the court he was denied the chance to purchase the chairmanship nomination form, effectively excluding him from the race.
Justice Lifu agreed, ruling that the PDP failed to comply with legal requirements for conventions, including publishing the timetable for members. He stressed that due process must be strictly observed, warning that democracy itself is endangered when rules are ignored.
The judge further held that Lamido would suffer greater harm if unlawfully excluded, and noted that Lamido had undertaken to pay damages to the PDP should his suit later be deemed frivolous.
This latest ruling mirrors an earlier decision. On October 31, Justice James Omotosho of the same court issued similar orders, stopping INEC from recognizing the outcome of the convention if conducted.
Justice Omotosho ruled that the PDP failed to issue the mandatory 21‑day notice of meetings and congresses, which would have enabled INEC to carry out its statutory duty of monitoring.
He warned that the party’s disregard for procedure placed the convention in jeopardy, and advised the PDP to comply with the law before proceeding with any election.
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