By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, has disclosed that over 110 groups and registered association have approached the Commission for the registration of new political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yakubu, made this known yesterday during the commission’s 2025 Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Senior Media Executives Officers in Abuja on INEC’s preparedness to ensuring transparency, free and fair elections for Nigerians.
The INEC boss also used the opportunity to provide key updates on major electoral activities ongoing to ensure a successful activities regarding off circle election in Anambra state as well as those of the six Area councils in the federal capital Territory, FCT, he also reaffirmed his agency commitment to ensuring that politicians play the game according to the roles as enshrine in the electoral Acts and most importantly to the ground norms which is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
He further emphasised it determination to maintain neutral and non partisan to all political parties involved in election adding that as a registrar and a regulator it will always stand it ground to strict legal compliance in all its operation
Yakubu, also expressed appreciation to participants for their consistent attendance and engagement noting that the meeting was taking place at a critical time, as the Commission is overseeing two significant electoral processes.
The first, he said, is the ongoing conduct of party primaries for the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, scheduled to conclude on Monday, 30 June 2025. The elections, slated for all 68 constituencies in the FCT—including Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, and 62 Councillors across six Area Councils—will be conducted according to the delimitation framework already published on the Commission’s website.
The second is the Anambra State Governorship election, for which political party campaigns officially commenced on 11 June 2025 and will continue until midnight of Thursday, 6 November 2025. Election day is set for Saturday, 8 November 2025. The INEC Chairman urged media organisations to begin uploading applications for the accreditation of journalists once the portal opens, to allow timely processing and distribution of accreditation tags.
Addressing a widely discussed topic in electoral circles, INEC boss also clarified the status of letters of intent submitted by various associations seeking registration as political parties. He firmly refuted insinuations that the Commission was stalling or being influenced, saying, “Nothing could be further from the truth”.
He recalled similar allegations made in 2013 during the merger process of some political parties, stressing that the Commission has always acted within the law. He added that INEC under the present leadership had registered the highest number of political parties for the 2019 general election—91 parties with 73 presidential candidates—drawing both commendation and criticism.
The chairman further disclosed that his Commission had so far received 110 letters of intent from associations wishing to be registered as political parties. “All but six, which were received very recently, have been acknowledged. The remaining ones will be acknowledged before the end of the week,” he said.
To enhance transparency, Professor Yakubu announced that the full list of these associations—including their proposed names, acronyms, headquarters, and interim leadership—will be published on the Commission’s website and social media platforms. Hard copies were also distributed to stakeholders during the meeting. He reminded all stakeholders that the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties (2022) is available online for reference.
In his address, the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and the media Executives for their roles in safeguarding democracy and fostering accountability in Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Let me take this opportunity to express our appreciation and commend you for the good work you have been doing so far,” the NUJ representative said. “Without a doubt, the media plays a vital role in shaping public discourse and promoting platforms like Twitter and Facebook for public engagement, especially in Nigeria’s evolving democratic space.”
