September 15, (THEWILL) — On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, the 14 political associations flagged by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will learn whether or not they would transform into political parties and raise the number to 32 political parties in the country.
Currently, there are 18 registered political parties in the country, Accord, A; Action Alliance, AA; Action Democratic Party, ADP; Action Peoples Party, APP; Africa Action Congress, AAC; African Democratic Congress, ADC; Allied Peoples Movement, APM; All Progressives Congress, APC; All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA; Boot Party, BP; Labour Party, LP; National Rescue Movement, NRM; New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP; Peoples Democratic Party, PDP; Peoples Redemption Party, PRP; Social Democratic Party, SDP; Young Progressive Part, YPP; Youth Party, YP; and Zenith Labour Party, ZLP.
In practical terms, only six of these parties have any form of activity and participation in the polity with representatives in all or one arm of government in the country. Even so, two major parties, namely the governing APC and the major opposition PDP continue to dominate the political landscape. SDP, LP, and APGA still remain on the fringe. The coming of ADC has, however, added vigour and excitement to the mix, following the presence of big wigs in the party.
However, the clearance of some of the associations may further cause disruptions in the polity. ADC, for example, may face a challenge if the All Democratic Alliance, ADA, transmutes to a political party. The association is a front for former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi who is currently a frontline member of the ADC. He is likely to defect if ADA is created. Many who feel aggrieved with the established parties will move and join the new ones in a bid to take up positions, a move that is more rewarding, at their inception.
Accordingly, pundits have always maintained that in keeping with the constitutional demands for freedom of association, movement and speech, parties should be allowed to thrive. In the process, political parties that are unable to function will go into oblivion.
Another school of thought, however maintains that having many parties in a multi-ethnic and diverse country like Nigeria may lead to fragmentation along sectarian and ethnic lines. They therefore call for strict adherence to laws that promote inclusion, gender balance and institutional rules of due process and accountability.
Speaking in this regard, the electoral umpire stated that the 14 political associations have met the initial requirements to proceed to the next stage of registration as political parties in Nigeria.
This decision followed the Commission’s regular meeting held on Thursday, where it also reviewed preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections and the end-of-tenure Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the Commission received 171 applications from associations seeking registration. Out of the total applications, only 14 associations satisfied the preliminary legal and procedural criteria to advance, while 157 did not meet the threshold.
“Each request was assessed on the basis of its prima facie compliance with the provisions of Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 79 (1, 2 and 4) of the Electoral Act 2022 and Clause 2 (i and ii) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022,” he stated, adding, “Out of the total number of applications received, 14 associations have met the requirements to proceed to the next stage, while 157 have not. The commission shall officially communicate the decision arising from today’s meeting to all the associations in the next 24 hours,” the statement noted.
Olumekun said that their interim chairmen and secretaries will be invited to a briefing scheduled for Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 11:00 am at INEC Headquarters in Abuja.
“The interim Chairmen and Secretaries of the pre-qualified associations are invited to a briefing on Wednesday, 17th September 2025 at 11 am at the commission’s Headquarters in Abuja,” he stated.
INEC emphasised that meeting these initial criteria does not equate to full registration.
The final decision on the registrability of each association will be made after this verification phase to ensure full compliance with the legal framework.
“In addition to uploading the required information to the portal, the commission will physically verify all claims by each association in line with our Regulations and Guidelines.
“The final determination of the registrability of the associations as political parties will be made after the physical verification of all their claims to determine compliance with the legal framework.”
“We wish to reiterate that party registration is a continuous process under the law. The commission remains open to the consideration of applications that meet the criteria as provided by law,” Olumekun added.
The 14 associations now cleared for the next phase, include the African Transformation Party, chaired by Ikhane Stanley, with Secretary Emmanuel Shaibu; The All Democratic Alliance is led by Chief Akin A. Ricketts and Secretary Abdullahi Musa Elayo; Mohammed Kabir and Secretary Chibuike Onyendilefu represent the Advance Nigeria Congress; while the Abundance Social Party is represented by Comrade Frank Oruwa and Secretary Sikiru Oripelaye.
The African Alliance Party is headed by Olusegun Peters with Secretary Haruna Abubakar; the Citizens Democratic Alliance is led by Engr. Muazu Magaji and Secretary Tamunotonye Inioribo; Barr. Fortune Oghenegare Aghwaretoma and Secretary, Munirat Adama lead the Democratic Leadership Alliance; The Grassroots Initiative Party is represented by Nze Kanayo Chukwumezie and Secretary, Mohammed Abas Kuti; while the Green Future Party has Dr. Adebayo Adefolaseye and Secretary, Peace Daful as its interim leaders.
The Liberation People’s Party is chaired by Hon. Alani Akinde with Secretary, Douglas Aji; Hon. Ada Okwori and Secretary, Asuquo Edet Alexander, are at the helm of the National Democratic Party; The National Reform Party is led by Abdulkadir Mohammed and Secretary, Destiny Ormonigho Odugo; Also shortlisted are the Patriotic Peoples Alliance represented by Hon. John Ughulu and Secretary Jackie Wayas; and the Peoples Freedom Party chaired by Engr. Agbanifo Francis Akhigbe with Secretary Akintola Michael Alao.
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