By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the registration of two new political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced the decision on Thursday, February 5, in Abuja at the commission’s first regular consultative meeting with political parties for 2026.
According to him, INEC has approved the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as political parties.
He said only DLA met all statutory requirements after a rigorous screening of a total of 171 associations that sought registration, while the commission would also comply with a Federal High Court order directing the registration of NDC.
According to DLA, it seeks to promote governance reforms, youth participation, and social development initiatives across the country.
Its founding principles noted that the party plans to focus on transparency, grassroots mobilisation, and policies aimed at inclusive economic growth.
The NDC, approved following a Federal High Court directive, positions itself as a centrist party with emphasis on social justice, equitable resource distribution, and strengthening democratic institutions.
The party aims to provide an alternative platform for Nigerians dissatisfied with the existing major parties.
Impact Nigeria Newspaper reports that following the latest registrations by INEC, the number of registered political parties in the country has risen to 21.
A post on the INEC website shows that registered political parties in Nigeria are:
All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord (A), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Others are: Boot Party (BP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), African Action Congress (AAC), Action Alliance (AA), National Rescue Movement (NRM), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
This list also has Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Young Progressives Party (YPP), Youth Party (YP), and the newly registered Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
