The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the registration of two new political parties, bringing the number of registered parties in the country to 21 ahead of the 2027 general election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday during the Commission’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties for 2026, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The newly registered parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Amupitan said the decision followed a rigorous assessment process in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
According to him, INEC had received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.
He said that after an initial screening, 14 associations were prequalified to proceed to the next stage, while only eight successfully uploaded the required documentation on the Commission’s dedicated portal.
The eight associations included the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Green Future Party (GFP), National Democratic Party (NDP) and the Peoples Freedom Party (PFP).
“Out of the eight above, only two qualified for final assessment and verification of due compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act,” Amupitan said.
“After due consideration, only the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) was found to have complied fully with the requirements of the law. Accordingly, the Commission has decided to register the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) as a political party, effective from today, 5th February 2026.”
He disclosed that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was registered following a court order.
“The Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, in Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025 between Barr. Takori Mohammed Sanni & Ors v. INEC ordered the Commission to register Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party. The Commission has decided to comply with the order and is being registered as a political party,” he added.
The INEC Chairman said certificates of registration would be presented to the two political parties in due course.
He cautioned political parties against internal leadership crises, warning that persistent disputes and litigations were distracting the Commission from its core mandate of conducting free, fair and credible elections.
Amupitan urged party leaders to embrace internal democracy, dialogue and transparency in their operations to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process as preparations intensify for a series of elections in 2026 and the 2027 General Election
