Applications for party registration now 86
The number of political associations seeking to be registered as political parties ahead of the 2019 general elections has risen to 86, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said.
Chairman of INEC Professor Mahmood Yakubu who made the disclosure during the quarterly consultative meeting with leaders of political parties, at the Commission’s headquarter in Abuja, said 10 political parties that were deregistered after the 2015 general elections have been reinstated following court orders.
This he said brings the current number of registered political parties in the country to 40.
“Today’s quarterly meeting brings together INEC and political parties in order to discuss a number of pertinent issues in the management of our democracy.
Political Parties are the only vehicles by which persons can contest for elective positions in our country. This means parties are central to our democracy,” he said.
While welcoming back the 10 political parties that were deregistered after the 2015 general elections but were reinstated by court orders, Professor Yakubu said: “As always, INEC will abide by court orders on this one and all other matters.”
With the 10 reinstated parties, the total number of political parties in the country is now 40.
According to the electoral umpire, the reinstated parties are: Better Nigerian Peoples Party (BNPP); Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Democratic Alternatives (DA), National Action Council (NAC), National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP), Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), National Conscience Party (NCP), Nigerian Elements progressive Party (NEPP), National Unity Party (NUP).
