Election: INEC Alerts on Duplicate Names, Irregularities in 110 Party Registration Requests

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said there were clashing names and irregularities in the letters of intent it received from 110 associations seeking registration as political parties.

The list of the 110 parties, including proposed names, acronyms, addresses and names of their protem chairmen and secretaries, was published on INEC’s website and social media platforms on Wednesday.

INEC noted that some of the proposed associations used identical acronyms, which violates the commission’s guidelines, just as two separate applications sought to register a party as Obedient People’s Party. Among the proposed parties, the All Democratic Alliance is reportedly supported by a coalition of prominent political figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.

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Another group, believed to be backed by supporters of former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, submitted a registration request under a similar name, thereby raising concerns about potential acronym duplication.

Furthermore, 40 applications had nor protem national secretary, five lacked a protem national chairman, and seven had neither. Also, four submissions did not include an official address, while one was submitted without a party logo.