The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has stated that, despite receiving numerous letters of intent, no political association has formally applied for registration as a political party.
Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, confirmed this in an interview with The Nation.
“We have received many letters of intent, but none of them qualifies as a formal application yet,” Olumekun said. “Associations must first meet the criteria before they can apply.”
His comments follow the circulation of a letter reportedly from a coalition of opposition figures seeking to register a new party, the All Democratic Alliance (ADA), ahead of the 2027 general election. The coalition is said to be led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai.
The letter, dated June 19 and addressed to the INEC chairman, was signed by Akin Ricketts as ADA’s proposed national chairman and Abdullahi Musa Elayo as acting national secretary.
Under the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act, groups must meet strict requirements to register as political parties. These include submitting a party constitution, naming national officers, maintaining open membership, establishing a headquarters in Abuja, and filing an application no later than 12 months before a general election.
Olumekun emphasized that INEC will enforce these rules. “Any group seeking registration must comply fully with the legal and administrative guidelines,” he stated.