The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared only two political associations; the African Alliance Party (AAP) and the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) to proceed to the final stage of registration as political parties, sources familiar with the process told DAILY GAZETTE.
The decision follows months of screening after INEC announced in June 2025 that it had received letters of intent from 110 associations seeking registration.
By early September, the number of applicants had increased to 171 following additional submissions.
On September 11, INEC granted provisional approval to 14 associations, including the African Transformation Party (ATP), All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Advance Nigeria Congress (ANC), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Grassroots Initiative Party (GRIP), Green Future Party (GFP), Liberation People’s Party (LPP), National Democratic Party (NDP), National Reform Party (NRP), Patriotic Peoples Alliance (PPA), and Peoples Freedom Party (PFP).
In October, the commission further shortlisted eight associations; ADA, CDA, ASP, AAP, DLA, GFP, NDP and PFP for the next phase of the registration process, citing compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements.
However, multiple sources said INEC has now disqualified six of the eight shortlisted groups after its final assessment, leaving only AAP and DLA cleared to advance.
“Only AAP and DLA have been cleared to move forward. The remaining six associations were disqualified for failing to meet INEC’s final requirements,” one source said.
One of the affected associations shared a rejection letter in which INEC cited issues relating to the group’s address as part of the reasons for disqualification.
The letter was signed by the commission’s secretary, Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
The association, however, disputed the commission’s position, insisting it had formally notified INEC of a change of address and uploaded the updated details on the commission’s portal.
“INEC officials also carried out physical verification at the new location without raising any objection at the time,” a source from the association said.
Another member of a disqualified group accused the commission of denying receipt of documents previously submitted during the registration process.
INEC has yet to issue an official public statement on the latest round of disqualifications.
