…As INEC receives 110 applications
…It’s people’s right to associate- politicians insist
…Return to pre-2019 general election
…Many parties a distraction- Critics
…Steps to registering new parties
The move by 110 political associations in Nigeria to seek registration as political parties ahead of the general election in 2027 is generating significant debates in the polity.
While some see the move as part of the democratic process and the constitutional rights of Nigerians, others have expressed concern about the structure and potential of these political associations seeking registration to compete with existing and established political parties in the country.
Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that the commission had received the letters from the associations and was diligently processing them in accordance with the electoral laws and guidelines.
“As of Monday, 23rd June 2025, the Commission has received letters of intent from 110 associations that wish to register as political parties. We are diligently processing the requests in line with the procedure outlined in the law as well as our Regulations and Guidelines.”
Read also: Opposition parties and politics of 2027
Among the list of applicants are two groups with the acronym ADA. The All Democratic Alliance promoted by a coalition of opposition leaders seeking to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027 is listed as number 109.
The other is the Advanced Democratic Alliance, which appears on number 110. Two other associations, believed to be linked to the Obidients Movement loyal to the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are listed as numbers 25 and 55 under the names Obidient Peoples Party (OPP) and Obedients Peoples Party.
Proposed parties move to challenge existing ones
The number of associations applying for registration with INEC ahead of 2027 is the largest since 1999, but many political watchers doubt the capacity of many of these associations seeking registration as political parties.
Judging from experience from the past, there are concerns about the potential fragmentation and whether these proposed parties, if registered, can realistically compete and change the existing political landscape.
However, from the way that politics is played in Nigeria, what we see is that many of the smaller parties lack the required capacity to compete with the established ones, due to a combination of factors, including limited resources, lack of internal democracy and overwhelming influence of money in winning elections in Nigeria.
“Many of them don’t even have offices in most states in the country because of financial constraint as such they can’t compete,” Udom Eka, a political analyst, said.
“I don’t think many of them are serious; out of the 18 parties we have now, how many do we have at the grassroots?”
Kunle Okunade, political analyst, said the associations seeking registration as political parties can’t make any significant impact, noting that most of them are acting as fronts and bargaining platforms for politicians.
“Except for one or two who are sponsored by the major politicians, the rest are just platforms for negotiations and endorsement; don’t expect anything,” he said.
Number of parties not the Problem – Analysts
Many political analysts have also argued that there should not be stringent conditions for the registration of political parties in a democracy.
Citing advanced democracies like the United State of America, where about 400 political parties exist, but only few are on the ballot and two are prominent, they argued that the registration of more political parties in the country was welcome, as it would provide a shade and platform for those who have been displaced by recent implosion in the leading parties.
“It will also check the excesses of some powerful politicians, who control the power valve through ruling parties in their states. It will promote, boost democratic ideals”, Paul Olamide, a political scientist said.
Paul further stated that new parties will provide a third force and a credible alternative to protect the interests of aggrieved member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Similarly, speaking to BusinessDay, Sylvester Odion-Akhaine, professor of Political Science, said political parties can exist to contest elections only at the local government level or state level based on specific issues.
According to him, “I think the problem is not the number of parties but the hobbling of the democratic processes by party regulations.
“A political party can exist to contest elections only at the local government level or state level based on specific issues. Party autonomy is being repressed in the name of national representation or acceptability.”
Read also: 2027: Tinubu urges opposition parties to resolve internal issues
Fears over INEC’s role
There are concerns among political stakeholders that INEC may not be willing to register parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
Observers predict that in a bid to frustrate opposition not to stand in the way of the re-election bid of President Tinubu, the current administration may not give INEC the free hand to operate.
Speaking some days ago, Nasir El-Rufai, former Kaduna State governor, who is among the leaders of the coalition of opposition politicians, raised concerns that the current administration may attempt to frustrate efforts to register a viable opposition.
El-Rufai said, “We suspect the current administration will block any real opposition. Still, we’re proceeding to expose just how compromised INEC is and to challenge the government’s interference.”
Asked whether it would be fair to expect INEC to prioritise the registration of ADA over more than 100 other pending applications, El-Rufai said, “That’s not how it works. This isn’t a queue. INEC can assign teams to handle multiple applications simultaneously. The requirements are straightforward and have been upheld by the Supreme Court. INEC is just making excuses.
“The law is clear: if they don’t respond within the stipulated timeframe, the party is deemed registered. INEC is treading a narrow path and has a chance to prove its independence.”
Nigeria currently has eighteen political parties which competed in the 2023 general election, which was a reduction from the 91 parties that were registered to compete in the 2019 general election.
However, many citizens are unhappy with the operation and running of political parties in the country, there are concerns that most political parties lack ideology, while they are not also visible at the grassroots until only during the general election.
They have contributed to these parties unable to understand the fundamental socio-economic problems facing Nigerians and how to tackle them.
