The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the registration of two new political parties—the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC)—as preparations for the 2027 General Election intensify.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, announced the decision on Thursday during the commission’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties for 2026 in Abuja. Following the latest approvals, Nigeria now has 18 registered political parties.
Amupitan explained that DLA met all statutory requirements after a rigorous screening of 171 associations seeking registration. “Of the 171, only 14 passed the initial prequalification stage. Eight associations submitted documents on the commission’s portal, and ultimately only DLA fully complied with the law,” he said.
The NDC’s registration follows a Federal High Court order in Lokoja, Kogi State, directing INEC to recognize the party. Certificates of registration for both parties will be issued in due course.
While urging parties to avoid internal disputes and litigation, Amupitan stressed the importance of voter mobilisation ahead of the February 10 deadline for Permanent Voter Card collection in the Federal Capital Territory, warning strongly against vote-buying. “Vote-buying subverts the democratic will and is illegal. Anyone found engaging in it will face the full force of the law,” he said.
The INEC chairman also confirmed that the commission has finalised the timetable for the 2027 elections and will soon begin a nationwide voter revalidation exercise to ensure a credible register, highlighting the need to remove duplicates and non-citizen entries.
Speaking at the meeting, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) National Chairman, Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, congratulated Amupitan and urged the commission to maintain impartiality, transparency, and a level playing field for all parties. He called on party leaders to follow internal dispute-resolution mechanisms and allow INEC to recognise only executives elected in accordance with party constitutions to avoid litigation.
IPAC also called for harmonisation of Nigeria’s electoral framework, including the adoption of real-time transmission of results to the IReV portal, and recommended that all elections be held on the same day to reduce costs and voter fatigue. Dantalle highlighted the forthcoming FCT Area Council election and the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls as key indicators of public confidence ahead of 2027.
“Citizens expect an improved framework that restores trust and confidence in the democratic system, where every vote counts,” he said, emphasizing that INEC’s integrity remains central to free, fair, and credible elections.