Party Boom Or Ballot Burden? Nigeria Faces New Wave Of Registrations

By DIANA CHUKWUKA

WITH less than two years to the 2027 general election, Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is grappling with a surge in requests from associations seeking recognition as political parties. Applications jumped from 110 in June to 171 by early September, reigniting debate over whether more parties deepen democracy or overwhelm the system.

Supporters of the wave see it as proof of democratic vibrancy and citizen engagement. Critics warn of crowded ballots, wasted resources, and the rise of “special purpose” platforms used for political bargaining rather than genuine representation.

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu has promised fair and transparent processing. The commission recently launched an online Political Party Registration Portal to streamline applications but flagged frequent logo changes, leadership disputes, and incomplete documentation as major setbacks.

While some politicians accuse INEC of dragging its feet, the commission insists registrations are guided strictly by law. Applicants must provide constitutions, manifestos, membership registers in at least 24 states and the FCT, a national headquarters in Abuja, and meet constitutional requirements on inclusivity.

Analysts remain divided. Civil society leaders like Samson Itodo and Ezenwa Nwagwu argue that proliferation is not the issue—ballot access and performance thresholds are. They propose criteria that would allow associations to register freely but limit ballot participation to serious contenders.

Indeed, Nigeria has faced this before: in 2019, 91 parties contested, only for more than 70 to be deregistered after poor showings. Today, only 14 of the latest 171 applicants have cleared the first hurdle, pending further verification.

Observers say INEC’s challenge will be balancing freedom of association with electoral order. As one analyst put it, “the real question is not how many parties exist, but how the system manages them.”