New Party Surge: 91 Groups Vying For INEC Registration, Shaking Up 2027 Election Landscape

As expected, major political parties have weighed in on the influx of applications. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concern, suggesting that the large number of applications reflects a lack of unity among opposition leaders. Meanwhile, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) sees this development as evidence of the ruling All Progressives Congress’s (APC) failure.

The Labour Party, on the other hand, has shown support for the applications but urged INEC to carefully scrutinize each submission before approving registration. The APC has reacted by alleging that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is behind the initiative, though they maintain that the ruling party remains confident about the 2027 elections despite these efforts.

This announcement has sparked accusations from opposition factions, claiming that INEC is deliberately obstructing the registration of new political parties. Salihu Lukman, a prominent member of the opposition coalition, noted that political parties failing to meet the electoral threshold could face deregistration, and that efforts to register new parties have been frustrated by INEC.

Lukman further criticized the process, calling attention to the ongoing difficulties within the coalition, which has been trying to harmonize efforts for over a year. He questioned INEC’s commitment to registering new parties, suggesting that the commission may be intentionally hindering their progress.

PDP’s Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, dismissed the idea of multiple political parties, emphasizing that a single strong opposition party would be more effective in challenging the APC. He called for greater focus on uniting opposition figures into one solid platform rather than investing in new, minor political parties.

The NNPP, however, views the surge in party applications as a blow to the ruling APC and an advantage for the opposition coalition.