The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 151 associations have formally expressed interest in becoming registered political parties in Nigeria.
This development was revealed by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, following the Commission’s weekly meeting held on Thursday.
According to Olumekun, since the last update issued on 23 July 2025, INEC has received an additional eight letters of intent, bringing the total number of applications to 151.
He stated that the details of these fresh submissions — including proposed party names, acronyms, logos, contact addresses, and interim leadership structures — have been published on the Commission’s official website and digital platforms for public scrutiny.
Olumekun further disclosed that INEC has commenced the shortlisting process for associations that have met the stipulated prerequisites for advancing to the formal application stage.
“The Commission has created a dedicated portal for party registration and has begun vetting associations eligible for the next phase. Further details will be released after the conduct of the 16 bye-elections scheduled to be held across 12 states on Saturday, 16 August 2025,” he noted.
INEC reiterated its commitment to transparency and inclusivity, assuring the public that it will continue to provide timely updates on all its activities.
