The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will soon publish the names of political associations that have successfully met the constitutional and legal requirements for registration as political parties.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu—represented by Joash O. Amupitan, SAN—made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Providing an update on the registration process, Amupitan revealed that INEC received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking recognition as political parties. He said the applications were assessed in line with Section 222 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 79 (1), (2) and (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022.

According to him, several of the associations failed to meet the required legal and constitutional criteria, while those that complied would be announced soon.

“The successful association(s) will soon be announced by the commission,” he said.

On preparations for the 2027 general elections, Amupitan explained that the delay in releasing the election timetable was due to the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act by the National Assembly. He noted that although Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act empowers INEC to issue a notice of election at least 360 days before polling day, the commission is awaiting the conclusion of the amendment process.

He assured Nigerians that the timetable would be released in full compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act and appealed to stakeholders to urge lawmakers to expedite action on the amendments.

Amupitan also provided an update on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections, stating that 10 out of the 13 scheduled activities had been completed. He added that campaigns would end on Thursday, February 19, 2026, while sensitive materials would be delivered a day before the election.

He disclosed that a mock accreditation exercise would be conducted on Saturday, February 7, 2026, in 289 selected polling units across the six Area Councils. INEC has also accredited 83 domestic and five international observers for the polls.