The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered two new political parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced this during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja on Thursday, February 5, 2026.
The registration has increased the total number of registered parties in Nigeria to 21.
The two new parties, according to Amupitan, are Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Amupitan disclosed that DLA was registered being the only association out of the 171 associations seeking INEC registration as political parties, while NDC was registered in obedience to court order.
Amupitan recalled that INEC received 171 letters of intent to from associations seeking registration as political parties.
He said the associations were assessed in line with Sections 222 and 223 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (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.
The INEC boss said: “14 associations that satisfied the initial pre-qualification were invited to proceed to the next stage. Of these, right successfully uploaded their documents on the commission’s dedicated portal.
“They are 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).
“Out of the eight above, only two qualified for final assessment and verification of due compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
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“After due consideration, only the Democratic Leadership Alliance was found to have complied fully with the requirements of the law.
“Accordingly, the commission decided to register the DLA as a political party, effective from today, February 5, 2025.
“Furthermore, the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi, in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 between Barr Takori Mohammed Sanni & Ors v. INEC ordered the commission to register Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party.
“The commission has decided to comply with the order and is being registered as a political party. Certificate of Registration will be handed over to the two new political parties in due course.”
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