2027: Fela’s son, over 100 others seeking registration as new political party, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that no fewer than 110 political associations have formally applied for registration as political parties ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, made this known on Wednesday during the commission’s second regular consultative meeting with media executives in Abuja.

Among the applicants is the Movement of the People (MOP), reportedly championed by Seun Kuti, son of the late Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Other notable requests came from La Riba Multipurpose Cooperative Society, All Democratic Alliance (ADA) by Chief Akin Ricketts, and Obidient Peoples Party led by Barry Avotu Johnson.

Interestingly, one individual, Malam Idris A. Abdulkarim, submitted three different political association requests under slightly varied names — New Green Generation Coalition Party (NGGCP), New Green Congress (NGC), and New Green Coalition Party (NGGCP). All three reportedly share the same office address in Kubwa, Abuja, and use identical logos.

Prof. Yakubu assured Nigerians that the commission would strictly adhere to the legal provisions governing the registration of political parties, with fairness to all, regardless of the prominence or background of the applicants. He emphasised that the commission remains impartial, recalling that similar accusations of bias had surfaced in 2013.

He stated that INEC had previously registered 91 political parties for the 2019 general elections and later deregistered over 70, based on legal provisions. The commission, according to Yakubu, will follow the same lawful procedures in handling the latest batch of applications.

“As of Monday, June 23, 2025, the Commission has received letters of intent from 110 associations that wish to register as political parties. We are diligently processing the requests in line with the procedures outlined in the law as well as our Regulations and Guidelines,” Yakubu said.

He further disclosed that the full list of applicants, including proposed party names, acronyms, addresses, and names of protem chairmen and secretaries, would be uploaded to the commission’s official website and social media pages for public access.

Additionally, Prof. Yakubu confirmed INEC’s readiness for upcoming elections, including the Anambra governorship poll and the February Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He added that the commission is now prepared to conduct pending bye-elections and resume the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, with further details to be announced shortly.