The Forum of Associations Seeking Registration as Political Parties (FASRAPP) has condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to register them.
FASRAPP, in a press release dated September 12, 2025, referred to INEC’s press statement dated September 11 and signed by Mr. Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee.
Mr. Olumekun disclosed that only 14 out 171 political associations that submitted letters of intent prequalified to proceed to the application stage.
“This meant that 157 associations have been excluded,” FASRAPP regretted.
This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Chief Barr. John Nwobodo, double Chairman of FASRAPP and I Love Nigeria, and Dr. Godwin I. Udibe, FASRAPP Secretary and Protem National Chairman, Patriots Party.
The group wondered “what could be the basis for the selective prequalification”.
FASRAPP noted that INEC has flagrantly abused its own guidelines which mandates it to, within 90 days of receipt of letter of intent, convey in writing provisional approval of the availability and suitability or otherwise of the association’s proposed name, symbol and acronym.
The statement reads: “We note that INEC unnecessarily allows letters of intent to pile up.
“Most of the associations that made up the 171 political associations that submitted letters of intent did so since 2024 or earlier.
“INEC despite its legal obligations to reserve or reject the names within 90 days stood on the letters of intent for more than one year.
“We are of the view that 90 days merely to reserve name is outrageous.
“There are just 19 political parties in the country today and therefore the political parties database or register has few contents.
“The Corporate Affairs Commission with its vast database yet it reserves names within 5 minutes, and registration of companies can be concluded the same day.
“On the contrary INEC thrives on analogue, archaic and outdated practices deliberately so to frustrate citizens fundamental rights to form and belong to political parties of their choice.”
FASRAPP further noted that “INEC approved 5 political associations with discrepancies in their information as published by INEC in its previous regular updates.
“There are instances where the same set of promoters submitted multiple letters of intent for different associations.
“There are also instances of names hitherto not on the INEC list surfacing among the prequalified associations.
“While not yet sure of the grounds upon which 157 political associations were axed, we wish to state that the criteria of evaluation at the stage of provisional approval are name, symbol and acronym of the political associations.
“INEC Guidelines require a political association intending to be registered as a political party to submit a letter of intent along with its proposed name, symbol, and acronym.
“INEC is required to convey approval of the availability and suitability of the proposed name, symbol, and acronym to the political association within 90 days of receipt of the letter of intent.
“Where a political association is not pre-qualified, it presupposes that the name, symbol, or acronym of the association is unavailable or unsuitable or that one or more necessary particulars such as address, and name of the Protem National Chairman or National Secretary or both are not indicated on the letter of intent.”
The forum also listed reasons why a name, symbol, and acronym will be unavailable and or unsuitable for registration.
It, therefore, asked INEC to show that either the name, symbol and acronym of the non-prequalified political associations fall into any of the listed categories.
“Ancillary issues may include whether the political associations provided an address, and the names of their Protem National Chairmen and National Secretaries.
“Members of FASRAPP shall meet to appraise the reasons for their exclusion as soon as INEC conveys their reasons for disapproving the names of affected associations and decide on next steps,” the statement added.
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