The Forum of Associations Seeking Registration as Political Parties (FASRAPP) has faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the exclusion of 157 political associations from proceeding to the application stage for party registration.
In a press release issued on Friday, September 12, 2025, and signed by Chief Barr. John Nwobodo, Chairman of FASRAPP and Protem National Chairman of I Love Nigeria, alongside Dr. Godwin I. Udibe, Secretary of FASRAPP and Protem National Chairman of Patriots Party, the forum described INEC’s action as “unacceptable,” insisting that the Commission must reduce the lengthy duration it currently takes to evaluate letters of intent from associations seeking registration.
The reaction follows a press statement issued on September 11, 2025, by Sam Olumekun, National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, announcing that only 14 out of 171 associations that submitted letters of intent prequalified to proceed to the next stage.
FASRAPP, however, expressed concern over the criteria used by the Commission.
“FASRAPP is alarmed at this development and wonders what could be the basis for the selective prequalification. While we await INEC’s letters conveying their reasons for not pre-qualifying 157 associations, it is pertinent in the meantime to state our interim position,” the statement read.
The Forum accused INEC of violating its own guidelines, which require the Commission to respond to letters of intent within 90 days of receipt by either approving or rejecting the proposed name, symbol, and acronym of the association.
“INEC unnecessarily allows letters of intent to pile up. Most of the associations that submitted letters did so since 2024 or earlier. Yet, INEC sat on these letters for over a year. We are of the view that 90 days merely to reserve a name is outrageous. The Corporate Affairs Commission, with its vast database, reserves names in minutes, while INEC thrives on analogue, archaic and outdated practices deliberately so to frustrate citizens’ fundamental rights to form and belong to political parties of their choice,” the Forum alleged.
The group also pointed to discrepancies in INEC’s published updates, noting that some of the prequalified associations had irregularities.
“INEC approved five associations with discrepancies in their information. There are cases where the same promoters submitted multiple letters of intent for different associations, as well as names not previously listed by INEC suddenly surfacing among the prequalified,” the Forum said.
FASRAPP further stressed that at the stage of provisional approval, evaluation should only be based on the suitability of names, symbols, and acronyms. It reminded INEC of the criteria under its guidelines, which prohibit the use of names or symbols that resemble existing parties, carry ethnic or religious connotations, or fall within prohibited classes such as national coats of arms, armed forces insignia, or portraits of individuals.
The Forum argued that unless INEC could prove that the disqualified associations violated these guidelines, the exclusion of 157 associations could not be justified.
“INEC has to show that either the name, symbol, and acronym of the non-prequalified associations are the same or similar to existing political parties or that their proposed symbols fall within the prohibited class. Ancillary issues may include whether the associations provided an address and the names of their Protem National Chairmen and Secretaries,” the statement explained.
FASRAPP disclosed that its members would convene once INEC communicates the reasons for the disqualification to decide on the next line of action.
