INEC Approves Registration of DLA, NDC as Political Parties

INEC Approves Registration of DLA, NDC as Political Parties

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved the registration of two new political parties: the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in a move aimed at broadening political participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The approval was announced on Thursday in Abuja by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the Commission’s first regular consultative meeting with leaders of political parties since he assumed office.

Amupitan explained that the decision followed a comprehensive review of applications submitted by associations seeking registration, in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

According to him, the Commission received 171 letters of intent from associations, out of which 14 met the initial prequalification requirements and were invited to proceed to the next stage. Eight associations successfully uploaded their documents on INEC’s dedicated portal, but only the Democratic Leadership Alliance satisfied all constitutional and legal requirements for final approval.

“After due consideration, only the Democratic Leadership Alliance was found to have complied fully with the requirements of the law. Accordingly, the Commission has decided to register the Democratic Leadership Alliance as a political party, effective immediately,” the INEC chairman said.

He added that the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress followed a directive of the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, which ordered the Commission to register the party. INEC, he said, had resolved to comply with the court order, with certificates of registration to be presented to both parties in due course.

The INEC chairman urged the newly registered parties and existing ones to uphold internal democracy, warning that persistent leadership disputes within political parties often resulted in avoidable litigations that distracted the Commission from its constitutional mandate.

Amupitan also called on political parties to support voter mobilisation, particularly the ongoing collection of Permanent Voter Cards in the Federal Capital Territory, which ends on February 10, 2026. He warned against vote-buying, hate speech and electoral violence, stressing that offenders would face the full weight of the law.

Also speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, welcomed the registration of the new parties, describing it as a step towards deepening democracy.

Dantalle urged political parties to respect their constitutions, promote internal democracy and resolve disputes through IPAC’s alternative dispute resolution mechanisms rather than resorting to the courts. He also called on the National Assembly to expedite amendments to the electoral legal framework ahead of the 2027 polls.

He reaffirmed IPAC’s commitment to working with INEC and other stakeholders to ensure credible, transparent and inclusive elections, adding that the conduct of upcoming elections would send strong signals about the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process as the country moves towards 2027.