The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that 14 associations seeking political party status have met the preliminary requirements to proceed to the next stage of registration. The announcement followed the Commission’s regular meeting held on Thursday, during which a total of 171 applications were reviewed for compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022.

Out of the 171 applications received, 14 associations were deemed to have met the prima facie requirements, while 157 applications did not. INEC stated that all associations will be officially notified of the decisions within 24 hours. The list of the pre-qualified associations has also been published on the Commission’s official website and other platforms for public awareness.

The interim Chairmen and Secretaries of the 14 pre-qualified associations have been invited to a briefing at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, 17th September 2025. The Commission will conduct physical verification of all submitted claims to ensure full compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. INEC emphasized that the registration of political parties remains a continuous process, and it will consider all future applications that meet the statutory criteria.