Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has announced that the 25 political associations have applied to be registered as political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.

National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Mr Sam Olumekun disclosed this while representing the INEC Chairman at the Public Presentation of the ‘NEEDS Assessment of Political Parties in Nigeria’ organised by the Kukah Centre and the European Union (EU).

He said; “Despite harsh criticism that INEC has passed through, especially in the last couple of months, we have the National Assembly that emerged from the political parties. There was a time we had many political parties before they were pruned down by legal requirements to 19.

“As at today we have about 25 political associations that have applied that they want to register as political parties. If political parties are not functioning well, why are groups coming up to seek registration as political parties?”