No fewer than 110 associations have submitted letters of intent to register as political parties ahead of the 2027 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed.
INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure on Wednesday, June 25, during the commission’s second quarterly consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja.
“As of Monday, 23rd June 2025, the Commission has received letters of intent from 110 associations that wish to register as political parties,” Yakubu said.
He noted that INEC is currently processing the requests in line with the law, INEC regulations, and its internal guidelines.
In addition, he explained that all but six of the applications had been acknowledged, with the remaining ones to be addressed before the end of the week.
Reaffirming INEC’s neutrality, Yakubu said the commission would treat all applications fairly, regardless of the social or political status of the applicants.
“We will treat all requests fairly irrespective of the status of their promoters, be they ordinary or prominent citizens,” he stated.
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He also dismissed suggestions that INEC was being selective or compromised in its handling of the process. According to him, similar unfounded accusations were made in 2013.
In a move to promote transparency, Yakubu said a full list of the 110 associations, including proposed names, acronyms, addresses, and the names of their protem chairmen and secretaries, would soon be published on INEC’s website and social media platforms.
The surge in registration requests comes amid rising political activity across the country ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political analysts believe the trend reflects growing dissatisfaction with existing political parties and increasing interest in alternative platforms.
Yakubu also touched on other electoral matters, including preparations for the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 8 and the planned resumption of Continuous Voter Registration nationwide.
But for now, all eyes remain on the fate of the 110 associations, and which ones will meet the legal thresholds to become Nigeria’s next generation of political parties.