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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

Kano assembly by-elections hold Saturday

Movement of motor vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles is strictly restricted from 12:00 am midnight to 6:00 pm on Saturday, 21st February 2026, being the Election Day, proper.

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The Kano State Police Command has announced movement restrictions in Kano Municipal and Ungogo Local Government Areas ahead of the February 21, 2026, State Assembly by-elections.

The announcement followed a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, chaired by the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Kano, Zango Abdu, held on February 19, 2026.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Kiyawa, the command stated that ICCES “met today, 19th February 2026 and concluded security arrangements ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Kano Municipal and Ungogo LGAs State Constituencies, slated for February 21, 2026.

”The Co-Chair of ICCES and Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, said that the command, “in collaboration with other security agencies, has put all necessary measures in place to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, credible, transparent, and successful by-elections for Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies.”

The statement read, “Movement of motor vehicles, tricycles, and motorcycles is strictly restricted from 12:00 am midnight to 6:00 pm on Saturday, 21st February 2026, being the Election Day, proper.

”It added that “exceptions will only be granted to vehicles on essential services, such as ambulances, fire service trucks, and vehicles of electoral officers and accredited election observers.”

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Politics

Abuja Area Council Elections Hold Tomorrow

Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye stated that the restriction will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.

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Photo: FCT ABUJA

The FCT Police Command has announced a 12-hour restriction on movement across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the Area Council Elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.

Commissioner of Police Miller Dantawaye stated that the restriction will be in effect from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day to ensure a peaceful and orderly process.

” The directive applies to all residents, except essential service providers and duly accredited election officials,” he said.

The Command urged residents to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and to cooperate with security agencies to guarantee a safe, free, and credible electoral process.

Members of the public were also encouraged to report suspicious persons or activities through the Command’s emergency lines: 08032003913 and 08061581938.

The police said the measure is part of broader security arrangements aimed at maintaining law and order during the elections across the FCT’s area councils.

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Rivers lawmakers halt impeachment of Fubara and Odu, following Tinubu’s interventions

The impeachment push came days after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused the governor of failing to honour a peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in 2025.

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Photo: River State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu. PHOTO: https://theverdict.ng/

The Rivers State House of Assembly suspended today the impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu.

The lawmakers reached the decision following the intervention of President Bola Tinubu recently.

The impeachment push came days after the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accused the governor of failing to honour a peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in 2025.

The resolution to halt the process was adopted on Thursday during the Assembly’s resumed plenary in Port Harcourt, presided over by the Speaker, Majority Leader, Major Jack.

The House had, at its first sitting of 2026, begun impeachment proceedings against the governor and his deputy over allegations of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the State Assembly complex and alleged spending without legislative approval, among other claims.

The claims included the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, withholding funds meant for the Assembly Service Commission, and an alleged refusal to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on the financial autonomy of the legislature, among other issues.

Lawmakers said the notice of allegations was issued under Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).In a letter dated January 16, 2026, the Assembly asked the state Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Amadi, to constitute a seven-member panel to investigate the allegations.

However, the Chief Judge declined, citing a subsisting High Court order restraining further action on the matter.

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