A.D.A.: NO GROUP HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION AS A PARTY, ALL WE HAVE ARE LETTERS OF INTENT- INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission says no organisation has officially submitted an application to register a new political party.

Speaking with The Nation on Monday, Sam Olumekun, INEC’s national commissioner and chair of the information and voter education committee, said the commission has received only “letters of intent” and no formal applications.

“The truth is that we have so many letters of intent presently, and none of them is an application yet,” he said.

“They must first meet the criteria before submitting a letter of intent.”

Olumekun explained that groups wishing to become political parties must comply with the stipulated guidelines and meet the legal and administrative requirements for registration.

His statement comes after a letter circulated from opposition leaders within a coalition movement seeking to register the All Democratic Alliance as a political party ahead of the 2027 general election.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, are leading the coalition.

The letter, dated June 19 and directed to the INEC chairman, was signed by Akin Ricketts, national chairman of ADA, and Abdullahi Musa Elayo, pro tem national secretary.

LEGAL PROVISIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES

The 1999 Constitution as amended authorises INEC to register new political parties and deregister existing ones.

Section 221 of the 1999 constitution states that “no association by whatever name called shall function as a party unless – (a) the names and addresses of its national officers are registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission, (b) the membership of the association is open to every citizen of Nigeria, irrespective of his place of origin, circumstance of birth, sex, religion or ethnic grouping.

“(c) a copy of its constitution is registered in the principal office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in such form as may be prescribed by the Independent National Electoral Commission; (d) any alteration in its registered constitution is also registered in the principal office of the Independent National Electoral Commission within thirty days of the making of such alteration; (e) the name of the association, its symbol or logo does not contain any ethnic or religious connotation or give the appearance that the activities of the association are confined to a part only of the geographical area of Nigeria; and (f) the headquarters of the association is situated in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

The Electoral Act 2022 also provides that political associations must apply for registration at least one year before a general election.

Section 75(1) of the Act says “any political association that complies with the provisions of the Constitution and this Act for the purposes of registration shall be registered as a political party: PROVIDED, however, that such application for registration as a political party shall be duly submitted to the Commission not later than 12 months before a general election.”