INEC Registers 2 New Political Parties; Warns About Electoral Act Amendment Delay

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has approved the registration of two new political parties. These are the Democratic Leadership Alliance, DLA, and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, which increase the number of registered political parties in Nigeria to twenty. INEC Chairman, Professor JOASH AMUPITAN, made the announcement during the commission’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties for 2026. Professor AMUPITAN said one hundred and seventy-one associations applied for registration as political parties, but only the DLA met the all the statutory requirements. AMUPITAN further said that the registration of the NDC was in compliance with an order of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, following a suit against INEC. He said the Certificate of Registration will be presented to representatives of the two new political parties in due course. Meanwhile, the INEC Chairman also warned that the delay in amending the Electoral Act could affect preparations for the 2027 general elections. Professor JOASH AMUPITAN raised the concern during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations in Abuja on Wednesday. Professor AMUPITAN said INEC had already concluded its election timetable and schedule of activities based on the existing legal framework.