INEC Registers 23 New Parties as Nigerian Political Parties Climbs 91

By Jide Afolabi, Jos

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has approved the registration of 23 new political parties according to the body’s Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

The 23 newly registered political parties are in addition to the earlier registered 68 parties. Nigeria therefore now has 91 political parties. This may increase before the 2019 general elections.

The newly registered parties are Advanced Alliance Party, Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, African Action Congress, Alliance for a United Nigeria, Alliance of Social Democrats, Alliance National Party, Allied People’s Movement, Alternative Party of Nigeria and Change Nigeria Party.

Others are Congress of Patriots Liberation Movement, Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy, Nigeria Community Movement Party, Nigeria for Democracy, Peoples Coalition Party, Reform and Advancement Party, Save Nigeria Congress, United Patriots, United Peoples Congress, We The People Nigeria, Yes Electorates Solidarity, Youth Party and Zenith Labour Party.

Political analysts observed that many parties including the newly registered parties are not viable as most of them could not win even Councillorship elections.

Some have suggested that electoral laws be amended to ensure that any party that can not sponsor candidates and can not win 5% (five per cent) during elections be deregistered in order to sanitise the system.