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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

2027: Lagos APC picks Damilola as Hamzat ‘s Deputy Governor

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has officially named Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as the deputy governorship candidate to pair with Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, the party’s flagbearer for the 2027 election.

The announcement was made following extensive consultations and a rigorous selection process by the party leadership. Sonayon-James, who currently serves as the Lagos State Deputy Woman Leader of the APC, is a 40/41-year-old Badagry princess with a strong background in public policy, community development, agriculture, women’s empowerment, and social services.

Lagos APC Chairman Cornelius Ojelabi praised her competence, loyalty, and grassroots appeal, describing the Hamzat-Sonayon-James ticket as a powerful combination of experience, innovation, and visionary leadership that will continue to drive development across the state.

The selection is seen as a strategic move to strengthen the ticket’s appeal, particularly by providing representation from Badagry and boosting support among women and younger voters ahead of the February 2027 polls. Supporters have welcomed the choice, hailing it as a balanced and progressive pairing.

Dr. Hamzat, the incumbent Deputy Governor, emerged as the APC’s consensus governorship candidate earlier in 2026 and is widely viewed as the frontrunner to succeed Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is completing his second term.

This development marks another key step in the APC’s preparations for the 2027 elections in Nigeria’s commercial capital.

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NDC Declares Party Supremacy, Approves Code of Conduct Committee

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The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has firmly asserted the supremacy of the party over individual interests, reaffirming its commitment to building a strong, enduring political institution ahead of future elections.

In resolutions from its recent National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, the party emphasized that no member or group should operate outside the party’s structures and leadership. It declared that elected officials must consult party organs on key decisions and that all support groups, NGOs, and affiliated movements must subordinate themselves to the party’s directorates and overall control.

“The Party is Supreme. We do not tolerate any cult of personality in the NDC,” the party stressed in its communique.

As part of efforts to promote accountability and discipline, the NDC approved the establishment of a comprehensive Code of Conduct for all party officials and candidates. A committee, headed by the National Legal Adviser, has been constituted to draft the framework and guidelines, which will apply across all levels of the party.

The moves come as the relatively new party—bolstered by figures including Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso—seeks to position itself as a credible alternative focused on institutional strength rather than personal ambitions. Additional resolutions include demands for full financial transparency through dedicated party accounts.

Party leaders described the resolutions as essential for fostering unity, discipline, and effective leadership as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections. The decisions have drawn mixed reactions, with supporters hailing them as a necessary “riot act” to prevent fragmentation, while some observers note potential tensions with various support movements.

The NDC was founded in early 2026 and continues to expand its structures, including recent steps like constituting a National Selection Committee for upcoming primaries.

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Senate President Akpabio Denies Promising Tickets to Defeated Senators, Opposes Public Probe of Military

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The Office of the President of the Senate has issued a strong clarification, debunking media reports claiming that Senate President Godswill Akpabio promised to secure senatorial tickets for senators who lost their party primaries.

In a statement signed by Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, the Senate President’s office described the reports as misleading and inaccurate.

“The attention of the Office of the President of the Senate has been drawn to misleading reports circulating in sections of the media suggesting that the President of the Senate has promised to secure senatorial tickets for senators who lost their party primaries,” the statement read.

It emphasized that Senator Akpabio neither made nor authorized any such promise. According to the clarification, what the Senate President actually conveyed during interactions with colleagues was empathy for senators affected by the primaries’ outcomes. He assured them that the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is actively addressing issues from the primaries, with the final list of candidates to be released in due course in accordance with the party’s constitution and electoral guidelines.

Senator Akpabio, the statement added, remains committed to party discipline, due process, and the APC’s internal mechanisms for resolving disputes. He will not interfere in the party’s autonomous processes or make commitments beyond the scope of his role as Senate President.

On Security and Legislative Oversight

The office also addressed another report quoting a senator on the need for the Senate to probe the military over recent security incidents. While acknowledging that legislative oversight is a constitutional duty of the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio believes the current period is not appropriate for a public probe of the Armed Forces.

“At a time when our troops are engaged on multiple fronts against terrorism, banditry and other threats to National Security, subjecting the military to a public legislative inquisition could undermine morale and operational focus,” the statement explained.

The Senate President advocates for support, collaboration, and closed-door engagements with security agencies, describing these as more productive during this critical time. He assured that oversight will continue to be exercised responsibly, without creating distractions that could embolden adversaries or divert attention from securing the nation.

Senator Akpabio urged the media and the public to disregard sensational and inaccurate reports of his remarks and to always seek clarification from his office before publication.

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