Two Associations Registered as New Political Parties, 170 Disqualified by INEC- Amupitan
Oru Leonard
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the official registration of two new political parties namely Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan disclosed this on Thursday during a Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Political Parties Leadership known as the Inter- Party Advisory Council (IPAC), which took place at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan explained that the Commission’s decision to register NDC was due to a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court, Lokoja, Kogi State, in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 between Mr. Takori Mohammed Sanni & Ors v. INEC which ordered the commission to register NDC as a political party.
The INEC boss, however, revealed that 170 other associations that submitted letters of intent to be registered as political parties failed the constitutional requirements.
He recalled that the Commission received a total of 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties, pointing out that the associations were assessed in line with Sections 222 and 223 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Sections 75 and 79(1), (2) and (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Clause 2 of the commission’s regulations and guidelines for political parties, 2022.
Amupitan said that consequently, 14 associations that satisfied the initial pre-qualification were invited to proceed to the next stage.
He explained that out of these, eight successfully uploaded their documents on the commission’s dedicated portal.
Amupitan said they were: the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Green Future Party (GFP), National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Peoples Freedom Party (PFP).
He: said “Out of the eight above, only two qualified for final assessment and verification of due compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.”
Speaking at the INEC meeting with IPAC, Dr. Yusuf Dantalle, IPAC Chairman, urged INEC to remain independent, neutral, and decisive ahead of the 2027 General Election. Dantalle emphasized INEC’s crucial role in deepening Nigeria’s democracy and urged adherence to party constitutions to prevent internal crises. He advised parties to use internal dispute resolution mechanisms instead of courts and uphold internal democracy.
IPAC also called for Harmonization of electoral laws, Real-time transmission of election results to IReV portal, Scrapping State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), and Conducting all elections on the same day to reduce costs and improve turnout
He noted that the FCT Area Council election is a critical test for INEC, and outcomes will set the tone for 2027.
IPAC assured collaboration with INEC and stakeholders to strengthen democracy and ensure credible elections.
(INEC Media, 5th February, 2026)
