The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that it has not received any formal application for the registration of a new political party.
This disclosure comes amidst speculations surrounding the formation of the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) by opposition figures, The Nation reports.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, stated that the commission has only received letters of intent from various groups, not formal applications.
“The truth is that we have so many letters of intent presently, and none of them is an application yet They must first meet the criteria before submitting a letter of intent.”Olumekun said
Olumekun further emphasized that any association aspiring to be registered as a political party must adhere to the legal and administrative requirements laid out by the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
This statement follows the circulation of a letter from opposition leaders under the coalition movement.
The letter, dated June 19, seeks to register the All Democratic Alliance (ADA) as a political party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The letter was co-signed by Akin Ricketts, the Pro Tem National Chairman of ADA, and Abdullahi Musa Elayo, its Pro Tem National Secretary. The coalition is reportedly spearheaded by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
INEC’s guidelines for party registration are rooted in the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022. Section 221 of the Constitution stipulates that no association may function as a political party without meeting specific criteria, including open membership, submission of a constitution, and situating its headquarters in Abuja.
“The name of the association, its symbol or logo must not contain any ethnic or religious connotation or give the appearance that its activities are confined to a part only of the geographical area of Nigeria,” Olumekun added, citing the constitutional provisions.
Also, the Electoral Act 2022 mandates that any application for party registration must be submitted to INEC at least 12 months before a general election.
“Any political association that complies with the provisions of the Constitution and this Act for the purposes of registration shall be registered as a political party,” the Act states in Section 75(1).
Olumekun reiterated that INEC remains committed to ensuring compliance with the law.
“We encourage all groups to follow the laid-down procedures to avoid any setbacks,” he said.
