Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that no group has formally applied to register a new political party, despite circulating a letter of intent to form the All Democratic Alliance (ADA).
The commission, according to Sam Olumekun, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, has only received letters of intent, not formal applications.
“We have so many letters of intent presently, and none of them is an application yet,” Olumekun said. “They must first meet the criteria before submitting a letter of intent.”
He emphasised that associations seeking to register as political parties must follow the guidelines and abide by the legal and administrative requirements for registration.
The development follows a letter by opposition leaders, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former Kaduna Governor Nasir el-Rufai, requesting to register ADA as a political party ahead of the 2027 general election.
The letter, dated June 19 and addressed to the INEC chairman, was co-signed by Akin Ricketts, national chairman of ADA, and Abdullahi Musa Elayo, pro tem national secretary.
