INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shortlisted 14 associations from 171 applicants seeking registration as political parties.

The development was disclosed in a statement on Thursday, September 11, 2025, by the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun.

Olumekun explained that the decision followed the Commission’s meeting where it reviewed preparations for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections, the end-of-tenure Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory, and considered reports on fresh applications for party registration.

According to INEC, the 14 successful groups met the preliminary requirements stipulated in Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 79 of the Electoral Act 2022, as well as the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties 2022.

The remaining 157 applications were rejected for failing to meet the threshold. INEC said the affected groups will be formally notified within 24 hours.

The names of the shortlisted associations have been published on the Commission’s website and other official platforms. Their interim chairmen and secretaries are expected to attend a briefing at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.

INEC added that it will conduct physical verification of all claims made by the shortlisted groups before taking a final decision on their registration.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over the large number of unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in Osun State.

According to the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, no fewer than 360,794 PVCs are yet to be collected across the state. The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Tuesday in Osogbo by the Commission’s Public Relations Officer, Musa Olurode.

Describing the figure as “troubling,” Agboke appealed to eligible voters to seize the opportunity of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to pick up their cards.

INEC reminded residents that while fresh registration is ongoing, multiple registration is prohibited, warning that offenders risk having their data invalidated.

The Commission stressed that the unclaimed PVCs represent thousands of voices excluded from the democratic process and called on political parties, civil society groups, religious leaders, and traditional rulers to help mobilise citizens for prompt collection.

Agboke further emphasised that collecting PVCs is as crucial as registration itself, noting that citizens cannot participate in elections without their voter cards.