Nigeria has 41 political parties, says official

[Richard Akindele]

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria on Monday announced the registration of a new political party, the Nigeria Elements Progressive Party (NEPP), thus bringing the total political parties in the country to 41.

Mohammed Jumare, INEC national commissioner in charge of Information and Public Affairs, announced this in the capital Abuja at a news conference, saying that more parties would soon be registered.

Jumare stressed that the commission had opened the political landscape for all political associations that met the commission's requirements to apply for registration.

He said the political associations could go out and canvass for votes from the electorate after the conclusion of their registration.

At the news conference, INEC National Commissioner in charge of Political Parties Ishmael Igbani gave the assurance that there would not be a ceiling on party registration.

Igbani stressed that political parties' registration would continue as far as the associations were able satisfy the prerequisite registration requirements.

He, however, cautioned that not all the registered parties would be allowed to field candidates if such parties were not registered six months prior to the general election.

Igbani noted that 15 political associations had so far submitted their applications for registration.

Source: Xinhua