2019 Elections: 86 Associations Seeking Registration as Political Parties

In a disclosure at a quarterly meeting with leaders of political parties in Abuja on Tuesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), revealed that
86 political associations have applied for registration as political parties.

Ahead of 2019 general elections, 86 political associations have applied for registration as
political parties, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday.

At the commission’s quarterly meeting with leaders of political parties at INEC headquarters, Abuja, the Chairman of the
commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, described political parties as important vehicles in the management of the country’s
democracy.

“The number of applications for registration of new associations as political parties now stands at 86,” he said.

He congratulated the 10 political parties recently re-registered after being deregistered following their performances during the 2015 general elections.

The political parties, according to him, are Better Nigeria Peoples Parties (BNPP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Peoples
Progressives Party (PPP), Democratic Alternative (DA), National Action Council
(NAC) and National Democratic Liberty Party (NDLP).

Others are Masses Movement of Nigeria (MMN), National Conscience Party (NCP),
Nigeria Element Progressives Party (NEPP) and the National Unity Party (NUP).

“The names of these political parties have already been uploaded on our website.
“But, I will like to appeal to those of them, out of the ten that are yet to open their offices, to do so and immediately notify the
commission,” Yakubu said.

He also congratulated the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) on the successful conduct of its election, which he said was
useful for the development of the country’s electoral system.

“I wish to assure you that INEC will continue to partner IPAC.”
The chairman said that agenda of the quarterly meeting included INEC’s proposed strategic plan for 2017-2021, court judgement on the roles of political parties,
violence in the conduct of parties’ primaries and elections generally.

He also said that internal democracy of political parties, parties’ campaign finances,
nationwide continuous voter registration, outstanding Anambra Central senatorial re- run election and presentation on INEC
innovations.

In his remarks, IPAC Chairman, Mohammed Nalado, urged INEC to seek alternatives to deregistration of political parties.

He also expressed displeasure in INEC for not properly consulting political parties before fixing dateâ€‹s for 2019 general
electionsâ€‹.

Nalado admitted that INEC chairman notified IPAC of the decision, but said that the
council did not know whether the
information was official or not until it was in the newspapers.

“We had meeting with INEC chairman, unfortunately we did not understand him whether he was telling us officially or he
was just giving us information on how our elections should be done.

“I hope this issue will be discussed
thoroughly here,” Nalado said.
He affirmed IPAC’s commitment to work with INEC in deepening the country’s democracy.

Nalado also urged the commission’s new National Commissioners to make their inputs to the development of the electoral
system.

The National Chairman of United Democratic Party (UDP), Mr Godson Okoye, in an interview with newsmen, said it was
disrespect for INEC to fixed date for elections without consulting political parties.

“We are surprised that dates were fixed for elections that will take place in two years time.

“I think if that is the official position of INEC, the position of UDP is that it marks some
disrespect for political parties from INEC,’’ he said.