The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the registration of two new political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced the development on Thursday in Abuja during the commission’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties for 2026.
Amupitan said the commission approved the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as political parties.
He noted that only DLA met all statutory requirements after a rigorous screening of 171 associations that applied for registration, while the NDC was approved in compliance with a Federal High Court order directing its registration.
The DLA aims to promote governance reforms, youth participation, and social development initiatives, with a focus on transparency, grassroots mobilisation, and policies for inclusive economic growth.
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The NDC positions itself as a centrist party, emphasising social justice, equitable resource distribution, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. The party intends to offer an alternative platform for Nigerians dissatisfied with the major existing parties.
With the addition of the two new parties, the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria has risen to 21.
The full list includes: All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord (A), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Boot Party (BP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Action Congress (AAC), Action Alliance (AA), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Youth Party (YP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).