The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced an increase in applications from associations seeking to register as political parties, with seven new requests received in the past week, bringing the total number of applications to 129. This update was revealed during the Commission’s regular weekly meeting held on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
In an effort to streamline the registration process, the Commission is introducing a new political party registration portal, which is integrated into the Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System (PFRAS). This digital platform aims to make the registration process faster and more efficient, moving away from the manual methods used in previous registrations.
National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information & Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, stated that the Commission is in the final stages of testing the new portal.
The statement reads in part: “Unlike the manual method used in previous registration, the Commission is introducing a political party registration portal which is a module in our Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System (PFRAS). This will make the process faster and seamless. In the next one week, the Commission will conclude the final testing of the portal before deployment.
“Thereafter, the next step for associations that meet the requirements to proceed to the application stage will be announced. The Commission will also issue guidelines to facilitate the filing of applications using the PFRAS.”
“We expect to complete the final testing within the next week and will then announce the next steps for associations that meet the requirements to proceed to the application stage,” he said.
To assist associations in navigating the new system, the Commission will also issue guidelines to facilitate the filing of applications using the PFRAS. “We are committed to making this process as seamless as possible for all interested parties,” added Olumekun.
In addition to these updates, the Commission has uploaded the list of new associations seeking registration to its website and other platforms, ensuring transparency and public access to this information.
The introduction of the new portal and the increase in applications highlight the growing interest in political participation and the Commission’s efforts to modernize and enhance the registration process.
