JUST-IN: INEC registers two new political parties

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially registered two new political parties, increasing the total number of parties in Nigeria to 21.

The newly registered parties are:

Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA): Registered after fully satisfying all constitutional and legal requirements under the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC guidelines.

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): Registered following a Federal High Court order from Lokoja, Kogi State.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the announcement during the commission’s quarterly consultative meeting with political party leaders in Abuja on Wednesday, February 5, 2026.

Prof. Amupitan disclosed that out of 171 associations that applied for registration, only 14 were pre-qualified, 8 uploaded all required documents, and just two met the final assessment criteria—DLA on merit and NDC through the court directive.

He added that certificates of registration will be presented to both parties soon.

The INEC boss also urged political parties to resolve internal conflicts through dialogue, warning that ongoing disputes and litigation could undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of future elections.