INEC Confirms 12 New Applications for Political Party Registration, Issues Fresh Election Result Guidelines

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it received 12 fresh applications from associations seeking to register as political parties, bringing the total number of applications to 122 as of July 2, 2025.

This update comes alongside the release of new Supplementary Regulations and Guidelines that clarify INEC’s authority and procedures for reviewing election results — a move prompted by the varied interpretations of Section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.

INEC Makes Clarification on Election Result Review

In a statement released by Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission stated that it has published Supplementary No.1 to the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections.

These new guidelines outline the legal framework and timeline for reviewing election declarations and returns that were not made voluntarily or were contrary to electoral laws.

“Section 65 empowers the Commission to review declarations and returns not made in line with legal provisions. This update provides clear procedures to ensure transparency and consistency,” Olumekun explained.

The supplementary document is now available on INEC’s official website and platforms for public access.

INEC also provided a major update on the growing interest in political party formation. As of June 23, 2025, the Commission had received 110 applications. By July 2, that number had risen to 122, reflecting a surge in political mobilization ahead of future elections.

Olumekun noted that:

• A detailed list of the applicants — including names, acronyms, addresses, and interim leadership — has been published online.
• One applicant has already modified its interim leadership due to a defection, a move INEC cautions could delay the review process.

“We urge associations to maintain consistency in their submitted leadership and addresses to avoid self-imposed delays in application processing,” he said.