Janet Samuel
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a major step toward modernising political party registration in Nigeria with the launch of a new digital portal. This update comes as the Commission received seven additional applications from associations seeking to become political parties, bringing the total number of applications so far to 129.
This development was disclosed in a press release issued by the Commission after its regular weekly meeting held on Thursday, July 10, which according to INEC, the new requests are currently being reviewed in line with existing legal and administrative requirements guiding political party formation in the country.
The Commission also revealed that, unlike previous processes that relied on manual submissions, the new system will be managed through a dedicated online Political Party Registration Portal. The portal is embedded within the Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System (PFRAS), designed to make the application process more efficient, transparent, and less cumbersome for aspiring political groups.
According to the statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the Commission is currently conducting final testing on the portal. It is expected to be fully deployed within the next week, after which eligible associations will be allowed to proceed to the application stage.
In addition to streamlining the process, INEC said it would issue comprehensive guidelines to assist associations in filing their applications through the PFRAS system. This initiative is part of the Commission’s broader efforts to embrace digital reforms and enhance transparency and accountability in party administration.
Meanwhile, the list of new associations that have submitted applications has been uploaded to the Commission’s official website and other public platforms for transparency and public awareness. INEC reiterated its commitment to upholding due process while ensuring that political participation remains open and inclusive in line with democratic principles.
