The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), says it has not received any formal applications for political party registration, despite receiving over 100 Letters of Intent from interested groups.
According to INEC’s National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, none of the associations, including the much-publicized All Democratic Alliance (ADA), has moved beyond the preliminary stage. He emphasized that a letter of intent is only the first step and does not constitute an official application.
Olumekun reiterated that associations must meet specific legal and administrative criteria before submitting an application. These include submitting a letter of intent with the proposed party’s name, symbol, and acronym; obtaining provisional approval; paying an administrative fee; and filing the full application (Form EC 15A(1)) with supporting documents such as the constitution, manifesto, membership register, and proof of a national spread.
He added that the verification process also involves physical inspections, confirmation of federal character in leadership, and thorough vetting of all submitted documents.
Only after these steps are successfully completed will the commission consider issuing a certificate of registration. Any false claims or incomplete submissions will lead to disqualification or withdrawal of registration.
