The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered two new political parties, expanding Nigeria’s political landscape ahead of future elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during the commission’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties in 2026. He announced that the newly registered parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to Amupitan, the registrations followed an extensive and rigorous evaluation process initiated after INEC received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking recognition as political parties.
He explained that only 14 associations scaled the initial pre-qualification stage, while eight groups successfully uploaded their required documents on the commission’s dedicated portal. These 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 associations that submitted their documents, only two qualified for final assessment and verification of compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act,” Amupitan said.
He noted that the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) fully met all statutory and legal requirements following the commission’s final review, leading to its approval and registration as a political party.
The INEC chairman further disclosed that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) was registered in compliance with 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 the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party,” he said.
Amupitan added that INEC has decided to comply fully with the judgment, stressing that certificates of registration would be formally presented to both parties in due course.
The development brings the total number of registered political parties in the country closer to expansion, as INEC continues to balance inclusiveness with strict adherence to constitutional and electoral provisions.