INEC in receipt of 110 applications for political party registration, says commission.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the receipt of no fewer than 110 letters of intent from various associations seeking to be registered as political parties in Nigeria.

Speaking at a consultative meeting with media executives held in Abuja on Wednesday, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed that the applications were received as of June 23, 2025, and are currently being reviewed in line with the relevant laws and electoral guidelines.

“As of Monday, June 23, 2025, we have received letters of intent from 110 associations aspiring to register as political parties. The Commission is processing these applications in line with the procedures outlined by law and our operational guidelines,” he stated.

Professor Yakubu added that all submissions received have been acknowledged, except for six recent entries which will be addressed before the week runs out.

In response to concerns over impartiality, Yakubu reassured stakeholders of INEC’s neutrality and objectivity.

“We will process all requests equally, regardless of whether the applicants are ordinary Nigerians or notable personalities,” he affirmed, describing ongoing claims of bias as unfounded, similar to those raised in 2013.

He also noted that the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties are publicly accessible on the Commission’s website. Furthermore, INEC will soon publish a comprehensive list of the 110 associations, including their proposed names, acronyms, office addresses, and the names of interim chairpersons and secretaries. This, he said, is in line with the Commission’s commitment to transparency.

Shifting focus to other electoral matters, Yakubu announced INEC’s readiness to carry out pending by-elections as well as resume the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise nationwide.

“I’m pleased to inform you that the Commission is now fully prepared to conduct the outstanding by-elections and restart the CVR exercise,” he revealed, adding that details of these activities would be made public within the next 24 hours.

He expressed appreciation to media organisations for their consistent support, encouraging further collaboration moving forward.

The meeting also touched on ongoing electoral activities, particularly the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Yakubu noted that political party primaries for the elections are currently underway and are scheduled to conclude by June 30, 2025.

“The elections will be held in 68 constituencies, comprising Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the six Area Councils, Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali, and 62 wards. AMAC will have 12 wards due to its larger population, while the other councils will each have 10,” he explained. Full delimitation details, he added, are available on INEC’s website.

Also on the agenda was the upcoming Anambra State governorship election, slated for November 8, 2025. Campaigning began on June 11 and is expected to end at midnight on November 6.

The INEC chairman called on media professionals intending to cover the election to apply for accreditation as soon as the portal becomes available.

“We urge you to upload your accreditation applications for the Anambra election promptly, once the portal is open,” he advised.