The African Alliance Party raised objections over its exclusion from the latest list of registered political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The party said INEC refused to register it despite claims that it met all legal and constitutional conditions required for registration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The African Alliance Party is one of many political groups seeking official recognition as Nigerians push for more options beyond the major political parties. Earlier in the week, INEC announced the registration of two new parties during its first consultative meeting with political parties in 2026, held in Abuja.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, stated that out of 171 associations that applied, only the Democratic Leadership Alliance met all the requirements set by law, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress was registered based on a Federal High Court order. This decision increased the number of registered political parties in the country to 20.
Reacting to the announcement, the African Alliance Party issued a statement in Abuja warning that it would approach the court if INEC failed to register the party without further delay. The statement, signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Sadiq, accused the electoral body of unfair treatment and inconsistency in handling applications.
The party argued that it fully complied with the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC’s 2022 guidelines for political parties but was still left out. It also questioned the registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, claiming the party did not openly take part in the registration process or appear on INEC’s official platforms during the exercise.
AAP said it would rely on the judiciary to address what it described as bias, misuse of court orders, and sudden changes in policy by INEC. The party insisted that registration decisions must follow due process and the rule of law.
Despite the setback, the African Alliance Party said it would continue mobilisation at the grassroots level while preparing for the 2027 elections, stressing that the refusal to register it would not weaken its resolve to remain active in the political space.