The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared 14 associations to proceed to the next stage of their applications for registration as political parties.

The cleared associations are: African Transformation Party (ATP), All Democratic Alliance (ADA), Advance Nigeria Congress (ANC), Abundance Social Party (ASP), African Alliance Party (AAP), Citizens Democratic Alliance (CDA), Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Grassroots Initiative Party (GRIP), Green Future Party (GFP), Liberation People’s Party (LPP), National Democratic Party (NDP), National Reform Party (NRP), Patriotic Peoples Alliance (PPA), and Peoples Freedom Party (PFP).

National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this on Thursday after the commission’s meeting. He noted that INEC had received 171 applications, each assessed against the provisions of Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 79 (1, 2 and 4) of the Electoral Act 2022, and Clause 2 (i and ii) of INEC’s 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.

“In addition to reviewing preparations for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections and the end-of-tenure Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory, the commission considered the report of its Committee on the Review of Letters of Intent from associations seeking registration,” Olumekun said.

He added: “Out of the total number of applications received, 14 associations have met the requirements to proceed to the next stage, while 157 have not. The commission shall officially communicate this decision to all the associations within 24 hours. Meanwhile, the list of the 14 pre-qualified associations has been published on our website and other official platforms.”