The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has so far received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. He said 19 additional applications were submitted as of Wednesday, September 3, 2025, bringing the total to 171.
Olumekun explained that details of the applications have been published on the Commission’s website and other platforms, adding that a shortlist of pre-qualified associations is being finalised. He urged applicants to remain patient and avoid constant changes to logos, acronyms, and leadership, which he noted had slowed down the process.
On the forthcoming Anambra governorship election, INEC said there are now 2,802,790 registered voters in the state following the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. Out of 168,187 new registrations, 27,817 were flagged as invalid due to multiple entries, leaving 140,370 valid new registrants. Another 5,983 transfers were approved. INEC assured that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be ready for collection ahead of the November 8 poll.
Meanwhile, controversy has trailed the CVR figures in Osun State, where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused INEC of under-reporting completed registrations. In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media, Hezekiah Oladele Bamiji, the PDP said while over 470,000 residents initiated registration online, INEC’s report showed fewer than 600 completed physical registrations.
The party claimed that at least 25,000 physical registrations were recorded in the state, describing the gap as “a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise Osun citizens.” It demanded that INEC immediately correct the figures, provide daily reports to political parties and civil society groups, and allow independent monitoring of the registration process.
The PDP further warned that failure to address the concerns could erode public trust in INEC’s readiness for the 2026 Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
Olumekun, however, maintained that INEC would continue to update Nigerians on its activities and ensure transparency in all electoral processes.
