The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that 14 political associations have passed the initial stage of the registration process to become political parties, following the evaluation of 171 applications submitted by aspiring groups.

INEC, in a statement by Commissioner Sam Olumekun on Thursday, said 14 associations met initial registration criteria, while 157 failed to meet the requirements.

“The Commission considered applications from 171 associations seeking registration as political parties. After a rigorous evaluation process, only 14 associations met the initial requirements and have been cleared to proceed to the next stage,” the statement read. Olumekun stated that the screening exercise fulfills INEC’s constitutional duty to regulate party registration and enforce legal compliance.

The meeting also assessed preparations for the 2026 end-of-tenure Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with INEC assuring voters that logistics and security measures would be in place before the polls.

The 14 associations cleared for the next stage must still fulfill all constitutional and legal requirements including establishing functional offices nationwide and submitting the required documents to gain full registration. Also, the commission did not disclose the names of the successful associations but said they would be made public in due course.

The electoral commission remains pivotal in shaping Nigeria’s democratic process, with the registration of new political parties expected to enhance political participation and representation nationwide.