Out of a total of 171 associations seeking to be registered as political parties, only one has been duly registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission, even as another one has been registered through court injunction.
The newly registered part, having met all the electoral and constitutional provisions, is
Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) while Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) is registered in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court, sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, between Barrister Takori Mohammed Sanni & Others vs. INEC, ordering the Commission to register the NDC as a political party.
Briefing chieftains of political parties from across the country today, February 5, in Abuja, the Commission’s chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan said that all the 171 which submitted letters to INEC for registration 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.
“Consequently, 14 associations that satisfied the initial prequalification were invited to proceed to the next stage. Of these, 8 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.
“After due consideration, only the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) was found to have complied fully with the requirements of the law.
“Accordingly, the Commission has decided to register the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) as a political party, effective from today, 5th February 2025.
“Furthermore, the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, 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.”
