Politics
INEC Receives 110 New Party Applications
Mr Yakubu stated that the commission under his leadership registered the largest number of political parties in Nigeria.
The Independent National Electoral Commission said it received letters of intent from 110 associations seeking to be registered as political parties ahead of the 2027 general election in Nigeria.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, during the commission’s quarterly media executive meeting.
He said that the commission would however treat all requests fairly irrespective of the status of their promoters.
According to him, as of Monday, the commission has received letters of intent from 110 associations that wish to register as political parties.
He said, “We are diligently processing the requests in line with the procedure outlined in the law as well as our regulations and guidelines. We have acknowledged all requests received so far, except six received recently which will be done before the end of the week. For emphasis, I wish to inform Nigerians, particularly those interested in registering new political parties, that the handbook containing the regulations and guidelines for political parties 2022 is already available on the commission’s website.”
The INEC chairman however denied insinuations in some quarters that the commission was compromising its independence on the status of the association seeking registration.
He recalled that similar unfounded accusation was made in 2013 that the commission was not keen on the proposed merger of political parties because INEC had “merged with the ruling party” at the time.
“For the record, the present commission registered the largest number of political parties in Nigeria and strictly followed the provision of the electoral legal framework. In the 2019 general election, there were 91 political parties and 73 presidential candidates. The commission was criticised in some quarters for registering too many political parties.
“After the election, the commission also de-registered over 70 political parties as provided by law. We wish to reassure Nigerians that under the current situation; we will continue to be guided by law and act with fairness to all associations seeking registration as political parties.
“We will treat all requests fairly irrespective of the status of their promoters, be they ordinary or prominent citizens. Nigerians will be fully briefed of the actions taken by the commission every step of the way,” he said.
Mr Yakubu disclosed that the commission would today (Wednesday) release the full list of the 110 associations seeking registration, their proposed names, acronyms, addresses and names of their protem chairmen and secretaries. For transparency and public information, the list will be uploaded to our website and social media platforms shortly, while hard copies are included in your folders for this meeting,” he said.
On the conduct of outstanding by-elections and the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), he said that INEC was now able to conduct the by-elections and to resume CVR nationwide.
Speaking on the forthcoming Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area councils’ election, the INEC chairman noted that political parties’ primaries for the election ended on June 30, adding that the delineation details for the territory were already available on the commission’s website.
Also speaking on the upcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for August 8, Mr Yakubu said that campaign in public by political parties had already commenced since June 11 and would end on November 6.
He reiterated that the commission would continue to update the public on electoral activities, urging the media to monitor electoral and political activities in the FCT and Anambra State.
He also appealed to the media for prompt online applications for accreditation for the Anambra Governorship once the process commenced.
In his remarks, the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Alhassan Yahaya, commended INEC for the regular media engagement and efforts by the commission to improve elections in the country.
He assured INEC of continued media support while appealing to the commission to prioritise journalists’ safety in the upcoming governorship election in Anambra State.
Gazettengr.com
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected a letter submitted by the Samuel Anyanwu faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the correspondence “failed to meet the requirements of the law.”
According to The Nation, the letter, jointly signed by Abdulrahaman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, had sought the postponement of the Ekiti Governorship Primary scheduled for November 8, 2025.
The faction claimed that “logistical reasons” made it impossible to conduct the exercise as planned.
In the letter dated November 6, 2025, titled “Postponement of PDP Ekiti State Congress/Governorship Primary,” the faction told the commission that a new date would be communicated.
Part of the letter read, “We wish to inform you that the PDP Ekiti State Congress and Governorship primary scheduled for November 8, 2025, has been postponed due to logistical reasons constraining this exercise… Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”
Despite the request, the PDP went ahead with the primary on November 8, with Dr. Wole Oluyede emerging winner after polling 279 votes to defeat Funso Agent (239 votes) and Funmilayo Ogun (17 votes).
In its response dated November 10, 2025, and addressed to the PDP National Secretary under reference number INEC/DEPM/PDF/286/94, INEC declared the request invalid.
The letter, signed by the Commission’s Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran Anthony, stated that the notice did not comply with the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
The letter reads, “The Commission draws your attention that the notice is not in compliance with the requirement of Part 2(12)3 of the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022, which provides that ‘the National Chairman and National Secretary of the Party shall jointly sign the notice of convention, congress, conference or meeting and submit the same to the Commission.’ Be guided.
The Commission hereby informs you that it has rejected your submission for non-compliance with the requirements of the Electoral Act.”
The commission’s firm position effectively invalidates Abdulrahaman Mohammed’s claim to be acting national chairman of the PDP.
Tension At Wadata Plaza As Rival PDP Factions Storm Secretariat Amid Heavy Security
There is heightened tension at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abuja, as two rival factions claiming leadership of the party moved to hold parallel meetings at the same venue.
Heavily armed security operatives cordoned off major sections around Wadata Plaza on Tuesday, anticipating clashes between loyalists of Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the newly elected National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki.
Members of the Anyanwu-led National Working Committee were the first to arrive at the secretariat on Tuesday morning.
Speaking to journalists shortly after settling into his office, Anyanwu declared that he remains the substantive National Secretary of the party until December, stressing that no leadership announcement or convention outcome could invalidate his tenure.
He brushed aside reports of his expulsion by the Turaki group, insisting that due process had not been followed.
Responding to questions about whether he had invited the security operatives stationed outside the premises, Anyanwu confirmed that he had.
According to him, it is standard practice for the PDP to request the presence of security agencies whenever major party meetings are scheduled.
He added that the security operatives were also positioned to handle any “intruders,” a comment widely interpreted as a warning to the Turaki-led exco, which had also summoned its own emergency meeting at the same national headquarters.
The Turaki-led leadership had, on Monday, written to the police to alert them of what they described as plans by expelled officers to disrupt activities at the party secretariat.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected Kabiru Turaki (SAN), the former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, as its new national chairman at its ongoing national convention.
Turaki’s emergence at the convention, which was being held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, where delegates from 17 states in the country cast their votes to elect national officers.
The new PDP national chairman was a minister under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
At the ongoing convention, the party had earlier announced the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike. The PDP suspended Wike, along with the former governor of Ekiti, Ayodele Fayose, and the former national secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu.
The motion for the expulsion of the party leaders was moved by Olabode George, the former national vice chairman of the PDP. His motion was supported by Samaila Burga, the PDP chairman in Bauchi state.
Others who were expelled included the PDP’s national legal adviser, Adeyemi Ajibade (SAN), AbdulRahman Mohammed, George Turner, Dan Orbih, Umar Bature, Austin Nwachukwu, Mao Chuambuwa, and Abraham Ammah.
However, the expulsion of Wike and others has been rejected by the PDP have been rejected by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri and Caleb Mutfwang of Adamawa and Plateau states.
Governor Mutfwang, in a statement, distanced himself from the motion seeking the expulsion of the PDP leaders. Mutfwang, through his director of press and public affairs, Gyang Bere, said that the development did not reflect his position.
According to Vanguard, the governor explained that the motion was never discussed at the PDP governor’s forum, nor was it tabled at the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. He stressed that such a move would be counter-productive as the PDP was trying to be stabilized and that the expulsion could further polarize the party rather than uniting it.
Also, Adamawa Governor Fintiri distanced himself from the expulsion of Wike, adding that he strongly believes that the decision was not in the best interest of the PDP and that such a decision would further polarize the party.
Governor Fintiri reiterated that he remains a faithful PDP member and that he would not be part of anything that would further polarize the party. He added that “I believe that peace and reconciliation are the only ways forward for our great party.”
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