The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has introduced a new online portal to streamline the registration process for political parties, as the number of applications from aspiring political groups rises to 129 ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the portal is a new module within the Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System (PFRAS) and is designed to enhance speed and efficiency.
“Unlike the manual method used in previous registrations, the Commission is introducing a political party registration portal which is a module in our Party Financial Reporting and Auditing System (PFRAS),” Olumekun said in a statement issued after the Commission’s weekly meeting held Thursday in Abuja.
He confirmed that final testing of the portal will be concluded within one week, after which it will be deployed for use by associations seeking party registration.
“Since last week, seven more applications have been received, bringing the total number so far to 129. All the requests are being processed,” Olumekun noted.
He added that associations that meet preliminary requirements will be invited to proceed to the next application stage once the portal goes live. INEC also plans to issue comprehensive guidelines to assist applicants in navigating the digital platform.
To promote transparency, the electoral body has uploaded the list of the new associations to its website and other official platforms.
The new development comes amid growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with many new associations seeking to enter Nigeria’s expanding political space.
