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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.

Politics

INEC Recognises Nenadi Usman-Led Caretaker Committee as Authentic Leadership of Labour Party

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In a significant development resolving the prolonged leadership crisis in the Labour Party (LP), a Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the caretaker committee led by Senator Esther Nenadi Usman as the legitimate authority representing the party.

The ruling, delivered on January 21, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, declared that the tenure of Julius Abure as National Chairman had expired, in line with a prior Supreme Court judgment from April 2025.

The court affirmed the Nenadi Usman-led caretaker committee as the only valid body to act for and on behalf of the Labour Party, pending the conduct of a national convention.

The decision stems from ongoing factional disputes within the opposition party, which intensified after the 2023 general elections. Senator Usman was appointed as interim National Chairman in September 2024 to oversee the party’s affairs amid the turmoil.

Following the judgment, Senator Nenadi Usman stated that INEC’s implementation of the court order would ensure only one Labour Party appears on the ballot in future elections, particularly ahead of the 2027 general polls. “With the recognition by INEC, it means only one party, which is my party, would be on the ballot,” Usman said in an interview.

“There is no ambiguity about who the leader is, and only we can write to INEC to attend our primary elections or congresses.

“The ruling has been described by supporters of the Usman faction as a victory for democracy, the rule of law, and party stability. It directs INEC to treat all correspondence from Usman as valid and official, effectively sidelining the rival Abure faction.

The Abure-led group has reportedly indicated intentions to appeal the decision, maintaining their claim to the party’s leadership. However, the court dismissed arguments that the matter was purely an internal party affair.

This development is expected to streamline the Labour Party’s preparations for upcoming primaries, congresses, and the 2027 elections, potentially strengthening its position as a key opposition force. INEC is yet to issue a public statement confirming full compliance with the court directive, but stakeholders anticipate swift action to avoid further electoral complications.

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APC extends electronic membership registration to February 8

Ward Congresses will hold on Wednesday, 18th February 2026, while the National Convention is now scheduled to be held on 27th–28th March 2026.

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Photo: APC NWC meeting

At its 183rd meeting, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held on Friday, 30th January 2026, at the Party’s National Secretariat, Abuja, adopted the following resolutions:

1. The electronic membership registration exercise has been extended from 31st January 2026 to 8th February 2026, following requests from Party stakeholders.

This extension is to enable more supporters and members to register and validate their membership.

2. Ward Congresses will hold on Wednesday, 18th February 2026, while the National Convention is now scheduled to be held on 27th–28th March 2026.

Osun State , Ekiti State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are excluded from scheduled Congresses due to upcoming elections, while Rivers State is excluded due to the subsisting tenure the current executive committees of the Party in the State. 

3. The National Convention Planning Committee was duly constituted.

Further details on the adjusted Congress and National Convention timetable and schedule of activities, and composition of the National Convention Planning Committee will be announced in due course.

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Politics

Court Nullifies PDP’s Ibadan National Convention, Affirms Caretaker Committee

In his findings, Justice Agomoh held that the purported convention and all decisions reached at the gathering were illegal and amounted to nullities.

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The Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan has declared null and void the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Convention held last year in Ibadan.

The suit, FHC/IB/CS/121/2025: PDP v. INEC & 6 Others, came up for judgment on Thursday, January 30, 2026, before Justice Uche Agomoh, who delivered the ruling in open court.

In his findings, Justice Agomoh held that the purported convention and all decisions reached at the gathering were illegal and amounted to nullities.

The court further ruled that the PDP caretaker committee remains the only lawful governing body of the party that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should recognise and relate with in line with the law.

The presiding judge described the suit as a “brazen attempt” by the applicant to legitimise actions allegedly carried out in violation of subsisting court orders, stressing that the court would not allow such an attempt to stand.

He noted that the court could not sit on appeal over earlier judgments already in place, and consequently dismissed the application in its entirety.

Reacting to the judgment, Chief Ferdinand Oshioke Orbih, SAN, of the PDP caretaker committee, commended the ruling, describing it as a reaffirmation of the rule of law and respect for judicial authority.

Efforts by journalists to speak with counsel to INEC after the proceedings proved abortive, as the INEC lawyer declined to comment, saying that he was not interested in speaking with journalists.

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