INEC registers 2 new political parties ahead of 2027 Elections

Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the registration of two new political parties, the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), expanding the country’s political field ahead of the 2027 general election.

The announcement was made by INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, during a consultative meeting with political parties on Thursday. The addition of the DLA and NDC brings the total number of registered parties in Nigeria to 21.

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According to the commission, the DLA successfully completed a rigorous verification process, while the NDC was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.

Despite the expansion, Prof. Amupitan voiced strong concerns over the persistent leadership infighting plaguing many existing parties, describing the internal crises as a threat to the constitution and a significant distraction for the electoral body.

“Our collective commitment to the integrity of the electoral process is being challenged by the unfortunate and increasingly frequent leadership crises within political parties,” Amupitan stated. “These disputes often spill into needless litigations that tax the judicial system and divert the Commission from its core mandate.”

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The INEC chairman noted that the commission is frequently drawn into these internal party squabbles, which consumes valuable time and resources. “Sometimes, you wonder whether one should even continue to register or retain some political parties, given the recurring leadership struggles and court orders declaring different individuals as party leaders,” he added.

Amupitan also highlighted the “sobering trend” of declining voter turnout in Nigeria. He revealed that participation in presidential elections has steadily dropped from 53.7% in 2011 to a record low of 26.7% in the 2023 General Election.

“Technology alone cannot solve voter apathy,” he declared. “Citizens’ trust is often eroded by a perceived lack of democratic dividends or the fear that their voices do not matter. We must change this narrative together.”

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Looking ahead, INEC confirmed its preparations for several upcoming elections, including the FCT Area Council Elections on February 21, 2026, the Ekiti State Governorship Election on June 20, 2026, and the Osun State Governorship Election on August 8, 2026. To enhance electoral integrity, the commission announced a nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise to update the current register of 93.4 million voters by removing duplicate and deceased entries.

In response, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), called on INEC to act as a neutral arbiter and adhere strictly to party constitutions to avoid perceptions of bias.

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Dantalle also advocated for major electoral reforms, including the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs). “IPAC therefore reiterates its position that SIECs be scrapped and INEC empowered to conduct all elections nationwide, given its institutional expertise and capacity,” he said.

He further proposed making real-time electronic transmission of results mandatory and suggested holding all elections on a single day to cut costs, reduce voter fatigue, and prevent bandwagon effects.