78 associations seeking registration as political parties ―INEC

AHEAD 2027 general elections, 78 associations have submitted applications to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) seeking to be registered as political parties.

A senior management staff of the commission, who pleaded not to be named, revealed this to Sunday Tribune in Abuja.

The source, who declined to give the identities of the associations, declared that relevant departments within the commission are already sieving the applications to determine those that meet up the commission’s requirements for eligibility for registration as political parties.

“It is after that rigorous examination of their applications that the commission would select the ones that meet up its template for registration,” the source said.

Sunday Tribune checks revealed that the requirements that the applicants must fulfill include national spread; an existing National Executive Committee of the association that reflects the Federal Character principle; the constitution and manifesto of the association must align with the fundamental objectives and directive principle of state policy, as enshrined in the Constitution.

The name, acronym, symbol and motto of the association seeking to transform to a political party must not be toxic as to offend provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

According to the INEC Guidelines and Provisions for Political Parties, some of the claims to be verified by its relevant departments ahead of an association registration as party are: “The commission, in verifying the claims of an association, shall, among other things, ascertain whether: The National Executive Committee of the association reflects the Federal Character Principle which requires that members of the National Executive Committee must come from at least 24 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

“The constitution and manifesto of the association comply with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and these Regulations and Guidelines.

“The name, acronym, motto, or symbol does not offend the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022 and these Regulations and Guidelines.

“The constitution and manifesto of the association conform to the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principle of State Policy as contained in Chapter Il of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

The regulation further stated that “Where, at any stage of the registration process, it is discovered that the same set of persons submitted more than one application, or that any aspect of the submission is false, such an application shall be invalidated.”

Checks by Sunday Tribune revealed that 19 political parties are currently operating in the country.

The number swelled from 18 to 19 in July last year, when INEC had to reverse itself on the deregistration of the Youth Party, in compliance with judgement of the Supreme Court.

With the growing internal dissension within the dominant opposition parties, multiple sources revealed that gladiators within the dominant political parties have since opened discussions to form a formidable coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress in forthcoming general elections.

One of the options is to coalesce under a political party, outside the three dominant opposition parties which are now heavily fractured.

Taiwo Amodu