With preparations for the 2027 general elections gaining momentum, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed receiving 91 applications for the registration of new political parties.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the high number of applications as a reflection of disunity among opposition leaders, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) attributed it to the failure of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Conversely, the Labour Party (LP) welcomed the development but urged INEC to carefully assess all applications before granting approvals.
The APC, however, dismissed the applications as an initiative backed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, insisting that the move would not succeed and that the ruling party remains confident of victory in 2027. This announcement surfaced amid allegations from opposition groups accusing INEC of deliberately stalling the registration of new parties ahead of the elections.
A key opposition figure, Salihu Lukman, former APC National Vice Chairman (North-West), warned that political parties failing to meet electoral thresholds by securing seats in previous elections risk deregistration. He emphasized that party negotiations remain a major challenge within opposition coalitions and alleged that INEC was deliberately frustrating registration efforts.
“The question of negotiating a political party is the most difficult challenge. Many coalition members have been engaging in this for over a year. Several groups, including coalition members, have applied for party registration, but INEC continues to frustrate these efforts. The only conclusion is that INEC has decided against registering new parties,” Lukman stated.
On March 20, 2025, PDP’s Atiku Abubakar, LP’s Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai announced a coalition aimed at unseating President Bola Tinubu in 2027.
Victoria Eta-Messi, Director of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC’s Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department, refuted claims of rejection, confirming that all 91 applications remained under consideration.
“No application was rejected. We have received 91 as of today,” the EPM department stated in response to the allegations.
PDP Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, criticized the proliferation of parties, arguing that opposition forces need a unified platform rather than multiple parties to defeat the APC.
“This shows a major disconnect among opposition leaders. You don’t need 500, 20, or even three parties to remove the APC. What we need is one formidable opposition party. If INEC ends up registering 40, will that solve our problem? No. The focus should be on unity and building a strong platform. Many of these applications are from individuals who lack the structure or expertise to make meaningful contributions. Instead of multiplying parties, opposition leaders must first harmonize their efforts,” Osadolor stressed.
On the other hand, NNPP National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, saw the situation as an indictment of the APC, arguing that it presents an opportunity for the opposition coalition.
“We are not threatened. In fact, we welcome more participation from Nigerians. Increased involvement could lead to greater unity among opposition parties, strengthening efforts to challenge the APC’s governance. The rising number of applications is not just an indictment of the political class but a reflection of the ruling party’s failures,”
LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, emphasized the democratic right of any group to seek party registration, stating that it does not pose a threat to existing parties.
“It is INEC’s duty to receive and assess applications. They cannot prevent groups from expressing interest in forming parties. If any meet the requirements, they should be registered. At one point, Nigeria had almost 90 political parties. More parties do not threaten existing ones. The more, the merrier,” Ifoh remarked.
Meanwhile, Mark Adebayo, National Spokesperson for the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), warned that restricting party registrations would be detrimental to democracy.
“In a true multiparty democracy, the electoral body should not have the authority to limit party registration. Countries like the UK and the US have hundreds of registered political parties, even if only a few dominate. A broader political landscape strengthens opposition forces and creates a formidable challenge to the ruling party,” Adebayo stated.
As discussions around new political parties continue, the opposition remains divided between advocating for unity under a single platform and embracing increased political participation. INEC, however, insists that it remains committed to due process in handling all applications.
