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Why We Deregistered 74 Parties, Says INEC As Legal Battle Looms
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The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday deregistered 74 political parties on the grounds that they failed to meet requirements for party registration.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who released names of the deregistered political parties at a press conference in Abuja, also said 18 parties made the list of registered parties in the country.
The registered political parties, which reacted angrily to INEC’s decision, said it was sub judice, saying they would take legal action against the commission.
Among the deregistered parties are the National Conscience Party, which was established by the late human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, Kowa Party and the United Peoples Party.
They also include Pastor Chris Okotie’s Fresh Democratic Party; Peoples Trust, whose presidential candidate was Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim; the Advanced Allied Party, the All Blending Party, the Advanced Congress of Democrats, the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, the Alliance for Democracy, the All Grassroots Alliance, the All Grand Alliance Party, the Advanced Nigeria Democratic Party, the Alliance For New Nigeria, the Alliance National Party, the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party, the African Peoples Alliance, the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance, the Alternative Party of Nigeria and the Alliance of Social Democrats.
According to INEC, 18 successful parties are the Accord Party, the Action Alliance, Omoyele Sowore’s African Action Congress, the African Democratic Congress, the All Progressives Congress, the All Progressive Grand Alliance and the Allied Peoples Movement.
Others are Labour Party, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, the National Rescue Movement, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Peoples Redemption Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Young Progressives Party, and the Zenith Labour Party.
At the press conference, Yakubu said the commission had fixed the governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states for September 19 and October 10 respectively.
He explained that the Boot Party registered after 2019 general elections would continue to exist.
Yakubu said the commission deregistered the 74 political parties because they breached requirements for party registration.
One of the breaches given by him was the failure to win at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in one state of the federation in a presidential election or 25 per cent of the votes cast in one local government area of a state in a governorship election.
Another reason was the failure to win at least one ward in a chairmanship election, one seat in the National Assembly or state houses of assembly elections or one seat in a councillorship election.
While explaining that 75 parties did not satisfy the requirements, he said that one of the parties went to court, saying its fate would be determined by the judiciary.
According to Yakubu, Nigeria now has 18 parties as the Booth Party registered after the 2019 election would continue to exist.
He said, “In order to implement the provision of the Fourth Alteration to the constitution, the commission carried out an assessment of political parties to determine compliance with the requirements for their registration.
“Similarly, following the conclusion of the 2019 general elections, including court-ordered re-runs arising from litigation, the commission was able to determine the performance of political parties in the elections.
“In addition, they were also assessed on the basis of their performance in the area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory which coincided with the 2019 general elections. It should be noted that the FCT is the only part of the country where INEC is empowered by the constitution to conduct LG elections.
“Consequently, the commission has determined that 18 political parties have fulfilled the requirements for existence based on Section 225A of the 1999 constitution (as amended).
“Seventy-five political parties did not satisfy the requirements of the Fourth Alteration to the Constitution. However, one of the political parties, the Action Peoples Party, filed a suit and obtained an order restraining the commission from deregistering it. Consequently, the party remains registered pending the determination of the case by the court.
The Punch
The Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has said President Bola Tinubu’s administration sees comments and suggestions as an attack.
Sanusi made the remark while noting that Tinubu’s administration lacks good spokespersons.
The former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, however, said he is not a fan of politicians, but Tinubu’s administration deserves credit.
Speaking at the Oxford Global Think Tank conference convened by Arunma Oteh, Sanusi said: “This government doesn’t express itself properly. It sees every suggestion and contribution it does not like as an attack, and it doesn’t have good spokespersons.
“Let’s look at the good side of the reforms. GDP in Q2 2026 was at 4.48%. It’s not as high as it was under the Yar’Adua/Jonathan government, but during the Buhari years, the economy grew by 0.9%. Today it is at 4.5%. That’s progress. Inflation is down from 30% to 14.6% and is projected to be 12.5% by the end of the year. That is progress.
“GDP per capita in dollar terms has gone up since 2023 by 47%. If we continue at this rate, by the end of next year, GDP per capita will be back to where it was in 2005. Our reserves are at $55 billion, and yes, a lot of it is driven by portfolio flows, which are volatile, but we are lucky that there is a war in the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices are high. Investors would like to stay in Nigeria because of that and the high returns, and therefore we get the portfolio flows.
“We are also making progress in terms of diversification. 20% of our exports are coming from the Dangote Refinery. There are clearly foundations being laid for stability. It’s not the end, but the first step towards stability.
“I’m not a fan of politicians, but we need to give credit to President Tinubu’s administration for bringing us back from the brink.”
President Bola Tinubu has fulfilled his $100,000 promise to the Super Falcons of Nigeria for their historic triumph at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Tinubu made the promise to the team after they claimed the title for the 10th time at the tournament.
The Super Falcons staged a dramatic comeback to beat hosts Atlas Lionesses of Morocco 3-2 in the final.
Morocco led 2-0 in the first half, while Nigeria scored thrice after the break through Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi and substitute Jennifer Echegini.
The Super Falcons, however, failed to successfully defend their crown at the 2026 edition, losing to Cameroon in the quarter-finals.
They also failed to earn a berth at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to fulfil its promise of providing Nigerians with steady electricity supply.
Atiku said the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign council was attempting to divert attention from the administration’s unfulfilled electricity pledge by highlighting legislation, committees, bonds and power projects.
He stated this on Sunday through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communications of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, in a response to comments by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on the government’s electricity sector reforms.
Atiku said Nigerians continued to grapple with unreliable electricity, forcing households and businesses to spend scarce resources on alternative sources of power while still paying electricity bills.
“APC should spare Nigerians spectacle of celebrating paperwork while homes and businesses remain in darkness. After three and a half years, families still struggle to keep their homes lit. Traders and small business owners spend scarce resources on alternative power, yet struggle to keep their businesses alive. Nigerians are billed for electricity they cannot rely on. President Tinubu promised steady power and an end to estimated billing. That promise has not been kept,” he said.
The former vice-president also faulted the existing electricity band system, arguing that consumers across the different categories continued to experience power failures despite paying varying tariffs.
“Across Nigeria, consumers are placed in Bands A, B, C, D and E and charged different rates. In many areas, Band A customers pay about N209.50 per unit before VAT. Rates for other bands vary by state and electricity provider. Yet across every band, same hardship endures: power fails, but bill arrives,” he said.
He argued that households should not have to choose between paying electricity bills and meeting their basic needs, while businesses should not be charged more for electricity they do not receive.
On the planned removal of electricity subsidies from 2027, Atiku demanded clarification from the Federal government on the implications for consumers, despite assurances that there would be no immediate increase in electricity tariffs.
“Nigerians are entitled to clear answer: what will happen to their bills when subsidy ends?” he asked.
Atiku said he would work with state governments and regulators, within the provisions of the law, to replace the existing band system with what he described as a fair, transparent and affordable electricity pricing framework that would hold distribution companies accountable for the power supplied.
He also recalled Tinubu’s campaign promise during the 2022 presidential election, when the President reportedly pledged to provide constant electricity within four years.
“When President Tinubu campaigned in 2022, he made unmistakable commitment. He said: ‘If I don’t give you constant electricity for four years, when I come back for second term, don’t vote for me.’ Nigerians have lived through those four years. They do not need his campaign council to interpret his words for them. They need him to answer for them,” he said.
The ADC chieftain further questioned the administration’s investment in new electricity generation infrastructure, alleging that it had failed to build a new generation facility to increase the country’s power capacity despite introducing a multitrillion-naira bond programme to settle outstanding debts owed to generation companies.
“Paying old debts is not same as building new power infrastructure. Bonds cannot be presented as substitute for power in people’s homes,” he added.
Atiku also expressed concerns over the application of Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity and a provision in the Nigeria Tax Act for a five per cent surcharge on certain fossil fuels, including petrol and diesel.
He noted that although the government had said the surcharge had not been activated and would require a ministerial order, Nigerians deserved clarity on the possibility of additional energy-related charges.
“Dele Alake’s statement cannot light a home. Signing a law is not electricity. Raising a bond is not electricity. Approving a project is not power delivered. Nigerians cannot cook, study, work or sustain a business on announcements,” Atiku said.
He maintained that Nigerians expected reliable and affordable electricity, urging the Tinubu administration to account for its campaign promises and the performance of the power sector.
