Abuja: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered two new political parties, increasing the total number of registered parties in Nigeria to 21. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the two newly registered parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). Prof. Amupitan explained that DLA was registered as the only association out of the 171 seeking INEC registration that met the necessary criteria, while NDC was registered following a court order.
Amupitan highlighted that INEC had received 171 letters of intent from associations aspiring to become political parties. These associations were evaluated in accordance with Sections 222 and 223 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as the Electoral Act, 2022, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Politi
cal Parties, 2022.
Fourteen associations met the initial criteria and were invited to proceed to the next stage. Out of these, eight successfully uploaded their documents on the commission’s portal, but only two qualified for the final assessment. After thorough evaluation, only the Democratic Leadership Alliance fully complied with legal requirements, leading to its registration.
Furthermore, the Federal High Court in Lokoja ordered INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, a directive with which the commission complied. Certificates of Registration will be issued to both new political parties in due course.
Amupitan expressed concerns over internal conflicts within political parties and urged leaders to engage in constructive dialogue to maintain unity. He emphasized INEC’s commitment to the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral processes, which are being challenged by frequent leadership disputes.
He noted that these disputes detract from the core objectives of political entities and lead to legal b
attles that strain the judicial system and public resources. Amupitan stressed that such litigations distract from the commission’s primary mandate of ensuring free and fair elections and undermine public trust in the political system.
As an independent body, INEC remains neutral but emphasizes the importance of cohesive leadership for the health of democracy. Amupitan urged party leaders to focus on policy development and community engagement rather than internal strife.