The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is under scrutiny for allegedly delaying the registration of over 100 political groups, including a new opposition coalition aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.

Sources confirmed that 104 applications were submitted following the 2023 general elections, as various groups sought to expand the nation’s political alternatives.

However, months later, INEC has yet to act on any of them.

Among the applicants is the National Opposition Coalition Group, which plans to contest the 2027 general elections under a new platform called the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).

The group has rejected collaboration with existing parties, which it claims have been infiltrated or compromised by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Despite what applicants describe as urgency, Daily Trust reports that INEC has not moved forward with the verification process.

Some accuse the commission of intentionally stalling.

Comrade Salihu Lukman, former APC National Vice Chairman (North), voiced concern over Nigeria’s current political structure, saying it has failed to offer true representation.

“All the potential platforms are in danger,” Lukman said during an interview on Trust TV, referencing internal crises within the APC that led to his exit.

“More than 70 groups have submitted applications to INEC. But INEC is sitting on them.”

He added that the coalition has considered two strategic options, one of which is to register a new political party.

However, the delay by INEC threatens that plan.

“Acknowledgement letters are not even being issued. That’s a violation of the law,” Lukman said.

“The Electoral Act mandates INEC to act within a 90-day window after acknowledging applications.”

Lukman further linked INEC’s inaction to a broader pattern of “state capture,” where supposedly independent institutions like INEC and the National Assembly are allegedly under political influence.

Another applicant, Barrister Okere Kingdom Nnamdi, representing the Patriotic Peoples Party (PPP), confirmed he submitted the party’s application on March 28, 2025, but received only a vague response in May.

“Await the opening of the registration portal,” was INEC’s reply, which Okere described as ambiguous and lacking accountability.

In a formal letter to the commission, he asserted that the PPP had fulfilled all requirements under Sections 221–224 of the 1999 Constitution and Section 75 of the Electoral Act 2022, demanding a proper response or risk legal action.

Coalition members argue that INEC’s delay is robbing new parties of the time needed to prepare for the 2027 election cycle, with primaries expected to begin in early 2026.

But not everyone is optimistic. Barrister Kenneth Udeze, National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), questioned the practicality of registering new parties so close to the next election.

“Legally, no party can be registered within 12 months of a general election,” he stated, suggesting that mid-2026 could already be too late.

Unnamed INEC officials told DAILY GAZETTE that the commission is still reviewing applications and has responded to many within the legal timeframe.

They revealed that a digital portal is being developed to streamline the registration process and will launch soon.

One official dismissed rumors that INEC is hesitant due to fear of litigation from deregistered parties.

“The commission hasn’t made any decision on deregistration yet, but any action taken will follow legal guidelines,” the official said.

This comes amid memories of INEC’s 2020 deregistration of 74 political parties for failing to win at least 25% of votes in any state or local government area, or secure any elected position during the 2019 polls.

At that time, INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu justified the move as a way to streamline the system, leaving only 18 parties, later joined by Youth Party (YP) and Boot Party (BP) via court rulings, totaling 19.

Critics argue that many of the remaining parties are largely inactive, with only a few playing significant roles in national politics.

Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, clarified that all applicants must meet defined standards.

“If there are issues with their documents or information, they must be resolved. Applicants are free to seek updates from the commission,” he said.

Experts remain divided on how far INEC’s powers should extend when it comes to political registration.

Prof. Adele Jinadu, a former president of the International Political Science Association, affirmed that democracy permits unlimited party formation as long as applicants meet legal thresholds.

Dr. Dauda Garuba of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) concurred, arguing that compliance with the law should be the only requirement for participation.

But Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA), expressed concern over the growing trend of forming parties just for influence trading.

“The right to associate is constitutionally guaranteed. INEC’s responsibility should be limited to setting criteria for appearing on the ballot,” he said.

He criticized many of the aspiring parties as Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) lacking real political infrastructure.

“Parties don’t need to go national. They can focus on local elections. Most lack the capacity to manage a national campaign anyway,” he added.

As the 2027 elections inch closer, pressure is mounting on INEC to provide clarity and transparency on the fate of the pending applications, especially from those who see their platforms as the last hope for genuine political reform.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has refuted claims that there is division within its leadership concerning plans for opposition figures to use the party’s platform in the 2027 general elections.

This clarification came from Nkem Ukandu, deputy national secretary and spokesperson for the party’s National Chairperson, Ralph Nwosu, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

Reports had suggested that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai are collaborating to adopt the ADC as the vehicle to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election. Some media outlets claimed this development caused internal discord, with certain state officials allegedly opposing giving way to new political entrants.

Mr. Ukandu, however, dismissed these reports as “misleading, inaccurate, and a deliberate attempt to sow seeds of discord within the party.”

He emphasized the ADC’s openness to working with “all progressive-minded Nigerians,” highlighting that the party had even amended its constitution “to accommodate partners who are equally passionate about national development.”

He added, “Handshake has always been in our DNA, not out of desperation, but because we believe in inclusive governance and coalition-building based on shared values. We are a party built on clear ideological direction and structured leadership.”

Further stressing the unity within ADC, Ukandu revealed that the party undertook wide consultations and stakeholder engagements across different zones before reaching what he described as a ‘consensus’ on the coalition strategy.

According to him, the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had unanimously endorsed the coalition strategy during a meeting held last year at the NICON Luxury Hotel, which was observed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“Following that, we held additional NEC meetings, including one in October of the same year. In total, we convened over four NEC meetings, all focused on solidifying our position.”

“In some of these gatherings, coalition partners were admitted as observers, and INEC’s statutory presence reaffirmed the legitimacy of the process,” he explained.

He went on to affirm that “no dissenting voice was recorded during National Working Committee (NWC) meetings, reinforcing the party’s internal cohesion and shared vision.”

Additionally, state and zonal chairpersons aligned themselves with the coalition strategy during the ADC global summit on May 14.

“This party is united in purpose, and we are fully committed to building a credible coalition to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges,” Mr. Ukandu concluded.

The Presidency has responded strongly to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s critical remarks on the performance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, stating that it is only those “playing blind” who fail to see the government’s progress over the past two years.

Atiku, in his two-year anniversary statement on the current administration, accused the Tinubu government of worsening poverty levels and setting new records in reckless public spending.

But in a firm rebuttal, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Atiku’s remarks lacked objectivity and were driven by personal animosity.

“Unless Atiku allowed personal grievances to cloud his judgment, he should, in good conscience, acknowledge the significant progress and positive achievements made by this administration over the past two years,” Onanuga said.

He argued that the Tinubu administration had made measurable strides in stabilising the economy and laying the groundwork for long-term national development.

“We have made progress. Inflation is easing, food production is rising, investments are returning, and the foundation for a more prosperous, just, and inclusive Nigeria is being laid. These gains are in plain sight for everyone. Only those who play blind will not see them,” Onanuga added.

Taking a direct swipe at Atiku, Onanuga suggested that the former Vice President may be out of touch with realities on the ground.

“Unless Atiku still lives in Dubai, he ought to admit that in just two years, President Tinubu’s administration had embarked on the most ambitious and audacious economic and institutional reforms ever seen in decades.”

Onanuga reminded critics that Tinubu had never promised the reforms would be painless, but insisted they were necessary to rescue the country from economic collapse.

“During the campaign, Tinubu never promised that the reforms would be painless. But he was clear they were necessary to rescue the country from the brink of fiscal collapse, to reverse years of unsustainable spending and lay a solid foundation for long-term inclusive growth.”

He further argued that President Tinubu had implemented reforms that previous administrations, including the Obasanjo-Atiku era, failed to act upon.

“The removal of the fuel subsidy and unification of the foreign exchange system were steps successive administrations, including that of Obasanjo-Atiku Abubakar, acknowledged as necessary but failed to implement.”

Atiku promised the reforms in his manifesto. Indeed, all three major candidates in the election agreed they must be done, except that the responsibility to implement the reforms fell on President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 election.”

Onanuga highlighted the government’s fiscal achievements and economic credibility in the international market.

“Unlike Atiku and some critics, everyone agrees that the reforms have stabilised government finances, curbed systemic corruption, and enabled direct investments into social programmes and infrastructure.”

“Foreign investors now see Nigeria as an irresistible destination. Since 2023, the Nigerian Exchange has seen its ASI jump from 50,000 to over 110,000, and market capitalisation has increased to N69.4 trillion, from about N30 trillion before Tinubu’s ascension.”

In response to Atiku’s criticism that the government is “anti-people,” the Presidential spokesman pointed to efforts made to support low-income earners and the vulnerable.

“Contrary to Atiku’s claim that government policies are ‘anti-people,’ the Tinubu administration, fully acknowledging that its policies affect the vulnerable, has increased investments in social safety nets, introduced targeted interventions for low-income households, and more than doubled the minimum wage, from N30k to N70k. Some states even pay up to N85k to their workers, a feat made possible by increased federal allocations.”

Atiku’s comment about the cost of education also came under fire, as Onanuga defended the administration’s efforts to make higher education more accessible.

“Atiku’s claim that education was out of reach for poor Nigerians was entirely off the mark. Everyone knows the claim is false; it’s just an attempt to throw any muck at Bola Tinubu.”

“Since last year, the government has introduced the Student Loan Scheme to ensure that underprivileged children are not denied education because of poverty.”

“As of the last count, over 600,000 Nigerian students have benefitted from the loans. The loans cover the students’ school fees and living allowances.”

“The loans do not yet cover Nigerians in expensive schools like Atiku’s American University in Yola. What is undeniable is that under Bola Tinubu, higher education is now more accessible to deserving youths.”

Onanuga concluded by assuring that President Tinubu would not suppress dissent, but urged for more responsible criticism.

“Atiku and his co-travellers in the coalition party he is cobbling together need not worry about their democratic rights. As an acknowledged democrat, President Tinubu will not curtail their rights or silence them.”

“Criticism must be elevated and constructive. When Atiku opposes government policies, he should also offer a solution. Otherwise, his opposition statements will be dismissed as mere partisan rhetoric and cheap talk.”

Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has hit back at Senator Ireti Kingibe over her recent remarks regarding the enforcement of ground rent payments in the FCT.

Olayinka accused the senator, who represents the FCT in the National Assembly, of harboring personal animosity towards Wike, stating that her criticisms are driven more by dislike than legal reasoning.

“She should purge herself of the hatred she harbours against the minister and stop seeing issues from the angle of ‘I hate Wike,’” Olayinka said.

He described Kingibe’s comments on the enforcement of ground rent payments as “ridiculously illogical,” pointing out that the annual payment of ground rent is a legal requirement tied to land ownership.

“It is ridiculously embarrassing that a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose duty is to make laws, is ignorant of the provisions of Section 28, Subsections (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act,” he stated.

Olayinka further argued that the senator’s criticisms highlight a lack of understanding of the legal obligations tied to land allocations within the FCT.

According to him, the relevant provisions of the Land Use Act are clear and should be known to a legislator.

“For the education of Senator Kingibe, Section 28, Subsections (a) and (b) of the Land Use Act provides that ‘The government may revoke a Statutory Right of Occupancy on the ground of; (a) a breach of any of the provisions which a certificate of occupancy is by Section 10 deemed to contain; and (b) a breach of any term contained in the Certificate of Occupancy.’”

He continued by questioning whether Kingibe failed to understand that ground rent is one of the terms in the certificate of occupancy.

“Now, is annual payment of Ground Rent not part of the terms contained in the Certificate of Occupancy? Or Senator Kingibe just chose to advertise her myopic attitude to anything Wike?”

Olayinka also mocked what he perceived as the senator’s unrealistic expectations, suggesting her approach would amount to condoning noncompliance by landowners.

“Senator Kingibe should rather have said that land owners in the FCT have rights to refuse to pay necessary bills stated in the Certificate of Occupancy issued to them, and that when they so do, the government should simply pick samba and tambourine, and sing their praises.”

He concluded by raising a hypothetical question to underscore his criticism, asking what Kingibe would do if landowners defaulted on ground rent payments for decades.

“Now, if land allottees refused to pay Ground Rent for 10 to 43 years, Senator Ireti Kingibe will just look away if she was the FCT Minister?”