INEC Registers Two New Parties Ahead of 2027 Elections

 The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially registered two new political parties, boosting the number of recognized parties in Nigeria to 21 as the nation gears up for the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan made the announcement during the commission’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties in Abuja on Thursday, February 5, 2026.

The newly registered parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to Amupitan, the DLA earned approval after successfully meeting all constitutional and legal requirements, while the NDC was registered following a Federal High Court order in Lokoja, Kogi State, directing the commission to recognize it. Certificates of registration will be formally handed over to both parties in due course.

The chairman noted that the registration followed a rigorous review of 171 applications from associations seeking political party status. Out of these, 14 passed the pre-qualification stage, eight uploaded the required documents to INEC’s portal, and only two cleared the final assessment for compliance with the constitution and Electoral Act.

Amupitan emphasized that INEC’s vetting process was thorough, ensuring that only associations capable of operating within Nigeria’s legal and democratic framework earned recognition.

The addition of the DLA and NDC signals growing diversity in the political landscape, offering Nigerians more options as parties begin positioning ahead of the 2027 elections.

SOURCE : NaijaRush Assignment Desk