BREAKING: Nigeria’s Electoral Landscape Expands as INEC Registers Two New Political Parties
Abuja — In a significant development ahead of the 2027 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally registered two additional political parties, bringing the total number of officially recognised parties in Nigeria to 21.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan announced the milestone on Thursday, February 5, 2026, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja. According to Amupitan, the move reflects both procedural compliance and judicial directive in Nigeria’s evolving democratic framework.
The newly registered parties are:
• Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) — approved after successfully fulfilling all constitutional and statutory requirements, including compliance with Sections 222 and 223 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Sections 75 and 79 of the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s own Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
• Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) — registered following an order by the Federal High Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, which directed INEC to grant recognition to the party.
INEC revealed that it received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking party status. Only 14 advanced past initial pre-qualification, and eight submitted the full documentation to the commission’s portal for assessment. Of those, only DLA fully met the statutory criteria for registration, while the NDC’s registration was mandated by the judiciary.
Certificates of registration are expected to be presented to both parties soon.
Beyond expanding political participation, Prof. Amupitan warned against internal disputes within established parties, noting that frequent litigations and leadership conflicts could undermine Nigeria’s electoral integrity and strain judicial resources. He urged party leaders to pursue dialogue and internal resolution mechanisms to safeguard democratic processes.
With these additions, Nigeria’s multiparty system continues to diversify, reinforcing political pluralism ahead of the pivotal 2027 elections.
