NIGERIA: INEC To Launch Online Portal For Streamlining Political Party Registration

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to launch a digital platform to streamline the registration process for associations seeking recognition as political parties in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the Commission has now received 129 applications from groups requesting political party status, seven of which were submitted in just the past week.

In response to the growing number of requests, INEC is finalising the rollout of a Political Party Registration Portal, a new module within its existing Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System (PFRAS). The portal is designed to make the registration process faster, more transparent, and fully digital, replacing the previous manual application method.

Olumekun said; “The Commission is introducing a political party registration portal, which is a module in our Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System (PFRAS). This will make the process faster and seamless.”

He added that final testing of the platform will be completed within the next week, after which eligible associations will be invited to proceed with the next stage of registration.

“Thereafter, the next step for associations that meet the requirements to proceed to the application stage will be announced. The Commission will also issue guidelines to facilitate the filing of applications using the PFRAS. Meanwhile, the list of the new associations has been uploaded to our website and other platforms for public information.”