Court Orders INEC to Register Political Parties in Nigeria

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register political parties, a ruling that could significantly alter Nigeria's political landscape as the 2027 general elections approach. The court's decision, made on a Tuesday, comes after various political associations, including the African Transformation Party (ATP), Democratic Alliance (ADA), and others, insisted on their registration, which is set to be completed by December 2025.

INEC's Chief Press Secretary, Adebayo Oketola, confirmed that the commission is reviewing the judgment and its implications. As of September 11, 2025, INEC had received letters of intent from 110 associations, with 171 total applications assessed.

Fourteen associations, including the Citizen Democratic Alliance (CDA) and the Grassroot Initiative Party (GIP), successfully uploaded required documents for the next stage of registration. The court's intervention raises concerns about the increasing judicial influence over electoral processes, as past rulings have also impacted election outcomes.