Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced on Tuesday that 25 political associations have submitted applications for registration as political parties in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
The disclosure was made during the Public Presentation of the ‘NEEDS Assessment of Political Parties in Nigeria,’ organized by the Kukah Centre and the European Union (EU) in Abuja.
Represented by Mr. Sam Olumekun, a National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Yakubu highlighted the resilience of the political landscape despite recent criticisms.
Olumekun questioned the critics, stating, “If political parties are not functioning well, why are groups coming up to seek registration as political parties?”
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Victor Umeh, acknowledged the transformation in Nigeria’s political landscape since the return to democracy in 1999.
While praising the role of political parties in providing platforms for citizen participation, Akpabio also recognized challenges such as lack of accountability, inclusivity, transparency, and impunity.
Addressing the challenges, Akpabio expressed determination to address them in the Tenth National Assembly, aiming to rebuild public trust and confidence in political parties.
Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the founder of Kukah Centre and Convener of the National Peace Committee (NPC), lamented the absence of a coherent narrative in Nigeria’s political history. He criticized the lack of mentors and guardians in the political sphere, stating that the current political scene reflects a forest of chaos.
Kukah emphasized the need to change the perception of politics, especially for the younger generation, suggesting that the disruptive years under military rule contributed to the erosion of collective political memory.
He concluded, “This is not an inspiration to the younger generation who are likely to shun politics with the understanding that this is how things have been since the beginning.”
