Abuja, Nigeria – June 18, 2025
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports circulating on social media and other platforms claiming that two new political parties—Independent Democrats and Peoples Democratic Movement—have been registered.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, INEC categorically described the information as fake news, urging the public to disregard the misleading report.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has not yet registered any new party. The current number of registered political parties in Nigeria remains 19. Nothing has been added,” the Commission stated.
INEC further clarified that both the Independent Democrats and Peoples Democratic Movement were formerly registered in August 2013 but were deregistered in February 2020 in line with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and adherence to due process in political party registration, warning purveyors of fake news to desist from spreading falsehoods capable of misleading the public.
