Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has reaffirmed INEC’s independence, stating that new party registration requests are being processed based on merit and in accordance with electoral laws.
Yakubu, who chairs the Independent National Electoral Commission revealed that the commission has so far received letters of intent from 110 associations seeking registration as political parties ahead of the 2027 general election.
He made the disclosure on Wednesday during INEC’s second quarterly consultative meeting with media executives held in Abuja.
He said: “As of Monday, June 23, 2025, the Commission has received letters of intent from 110 associations that wish to register as political parties. We are diligently processing the requests in line with the procedure outlined in the law as well as our Regulations and Guidelines.
“We have acknowledged all requests received so far except six of them received recently which will be done before the end of the week.”
In response to concerns over impartiality, Yakubu reiterated the commission’s commitment to fairness.
“We will treat all requests fairly irrespective of the status of their promoters, be they ordinary or prominent citizens,” he said.
The commission’s boss dismissed allegations that INEC was compromising its independence, recalling similar unfounded accusations made in 2013.
He also pointed out that the handbook containing the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties is available on the commission’s website.
Yakubu further announced that a full list of the 110 associations, including proposed names, acronyms, addresses, and names of their protem chairmen and secretaries, would soon be published on INEC’s website and social media platforms for public transparency.
On bye-elections across the country, he said: “I am glad to announce that the Commission is now in a position to conduct the bye-elections and to resume the nationwide CVR.
“The commission met yesterday and we are finalising the details of the two activities which will be made public in the next 24 hours.”
The meeting also touched on current electoral activities.
The INEC chairman said that primaries for the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) are ongoing and scheduled to conclude by June 30, 2025.
Elections will take place across 68 constituencies, covering Chairmen and Deputies for six Area Councils and 62 wards.
He said: “As you are aware, the election will be held in 68 constituencies made up of Chairmen and their Deputies for the six Area Councils, namely Abaji, the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali as well as 62 Wards drawn on the basis of 10 Wards for each Area Council, except AMAC which has 12 Wards on account of its population. The full delimitation details for the FCT are available on our website.”
Persecondnews reports that the upcoming Anambra State Governorship election, fixed for November 8, 2025, was another major focus during the meeting with the campaigns commencing on June 11 and will continue until midnight of November 6.
Yakubu urged media personnel to apply promptly for accreditation to facilitate coverage of the elections.
“I wish to appeal to you to promptly upload your applications for accreditation of media personnel for the Anambra State governorship election as soon as the portal opens,” he said.
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