Number of associations seeking INEC’s registration as political parties rise to 151

• As commission resumes CVR exercise in 811 centres on Aug 18

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The number of political associations seeking registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC as political parties has increased to one hundred and fifty-one (151).

This was confirmed in a statement on Thursday by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Sam Olumekun in Abuja.

This is as the Commission announced that the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise will resume on 18th August with the online pre-registration.

The in-person registration option, according to the commission, will follow a week later on 25th August 2025.

Thereafter, the two processes will continue simultaneously for a year until 30th August 2026, the Prof Mahmood Yakubu-led INEC stressed.

The exercise, the commission added, will hold in 811 centres made up of our 774 Local Government, 37 State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) offices nationwide from 9.00am to 3.00pm (Monday to Friday) every week with the exception of national public holidays.

On the issue of associations seeking registration as political parties, the statement by Olumekun said, “Since the 4th update released on 23rd July 2025, the Commission has received eight more letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties.

This brings the number received so far to 151. “Details of the latest requests, indicating their proposed names, acronyms, logos, addresses and interim leaderships of the associations, are uploaded to our website and other online platforms for public information”, the statement said.

The statement by INEC reads in full, “The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today (yesterday), Thursday 7th August 2025.

“Among other issues, the meeting reviewed preparations for the resumption of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and further update on the registration of new political parties.

“As earlier announced by the Commission, the CVR will resume on 18th August with the online pre-registration.

“The in-person registration option will follow a week later on 25th August 2025.

“Thereafter, the two processes will continue simultaneously for a year until 30th August 2026.

“The exercise will hold in 811 centres made up of our 774 Local Government, 37 State and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) offices nationwide from 9.00am to 3.00pm (Monday to Friday) every week with the exception of national public holidays.

“For easy identification, the Commission is deploying an online CVR Live Locator to assist citizens locate the registration centres nationwide.

The locator will go live a day to the commencement of the CVR on 17th August 2025 and can be accessed at the following address https://cvr.inecnigeria.org/locator.

“Meanwhile, the Commission has today (yesterday) uploaded a 38-page document to our website and other official online platforms indicating the addresses of the 811 in-person registration centres nationwide. “Similarly, dedicated telephone numbers have been given for each State of the Federation to serve as Help Desk for citizens that require further clarification.

“The procedure for both the online and in-person registrations remains the same as was the case in 2022.

“Detailed information on the process, including video clips, will once again be released by the Commission next week”, it said.