Nigeria Has 22 Registered Political Parties Ahead Of 2027 Elections, See Their Founding Years, Chairmen, Secretaries

Habeeb Ibrahim 

Nigeria currently has 22 registered political parties recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with their establishment spanning almost five decades, from 1978 to the current democratic dispensation.

The parties include the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and 16 others.

A review of the parties’ histories shows that while some were established before Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, others emerged through political mergers, reorganisations and efforts by political associations to secure registration with INEC.

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), founded in 1978, is the oldest political party among those currently recognised by the commission, followed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which originated in 1989.

The Peoples Democratic Party was established in 1998, shortly before the beginning of the Fourth Republic, while the APC emerged in 2013 through the merger of major opposition political parties.

Below is a breakdown of the 22 registered parties, their founding or registration years, national chairmen and national secretaries.

1. Accord (A): Established in 2006. Its National Chairman is Maxwell Mgbudem, while Adebukola Abiola Ajaja serves as National Secretary.
2. Action Alliance (AA): Established in 2005. Its National Chairman is Adekunle Rufai Omoaje, while Miller C. Orgwu serves as National Secretary.
3. Action Democratic Party (ADP): Registered in 2017. Its National Chairman is Yabagi Yusuf Sani, while Victor Fingesi serves as National Secretary.
4. Action Peoples Party (APP): Registered in 2017. Its National Chairman is Uchenna Nnadi, while Abu Ibrahim Sossan serves as National Secretary.
5. African Action Congress (AAC): Founded in 2018. Its National Chairman is Omoyele Sowore, while Oshiokhue Philip Ikpeminoghena serves as National Secretary.
6. African Democratic Congress (ADC): Established in 2005 and registered in 2006. Its National Chairman is Senator David Mark, while Rauf Aregbesola serves as National Secretary.
7. All Progressives Congress (APC): Formed in 2013 through the merger of major opposition parties, including the Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change and All Nigeria Peoples Party. Its National Chairman is Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, while Senator Ajibola Basiru serves as National Secretary.
8. All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA): Established in 2002. Its National Chairman is Sylvester Ezeokenwa, while Ibrahim Mani serves as National Secretary.
9. Allied Peoples Movement (APM): Registered in 2018. Its National Chairman is Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, while Oyadeyi Ayodele Adebayo serves as National Secretary.
10. Boot Party (BP): Registered in 2019. Its National Chairman is Adenuga Sunday, while Egwuatu Maryann C. serves as National Secretary.
11. Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA): Registered in 2025. Its National Chairman is Samuel M. Memeh, while Grace E. Obekpa serves as National Secretary.
12. Labour Party (LP): Founded in 2002 and registered by INEC in 2005. Its National Chairman is Senator Nenadi Usman, while Iheanacho Obioma serves as National Secretary.
13. National Democratic Party (NDP): Its original founding year requires further confirmation. Its National Chairman is Ada Elizabeth Fredrick Okwori, while Silva Opusunju serves as National Secretary.
14. National Rescue Movement (NRM): Registered in 2017. Its National Chairman is Chinedu Obi, while Hassan Aminu Ibrahim serves as National Secretary.
15. New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP): Established in 2001 and registered in 2002. Its National Chairman is Agbo Gilbert Major, while Olaposi Sunday Oginni serves as National Secretary.
16. Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC): Registered in 2025 following a court judgment. Its National Chairman is Cleopas Moses Zuwoghe, while Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu serves as National Secretary.
17. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP): Established in 1998 ahead of Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999. Its National Chairman is Abdulrahman Mohammed, while Senator Samuel Anyanwu serves as National Secretary.
18. Peoples Redemption Party (PRP): Founded in 1978 by followers of the late Mallam Aminu Kano. Its National Chairman is Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, while Kanu Sunday Uchenna serves as National Secretary.
19. Social Democratic Party (SDP): Originally established in 1989 during the military transition programme and re-registered in 2010. Its National Chairman is Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe, while Olu Agunloye serves as National Secretary.
20. Young Progressives Party (YPP): Registered in 2017. Its National Chairman is Bishop Amakiri, while Vidiyeno Bamaiyi serves as National Secretary.
21. Youth Party (YP): Established in 2018. Its National Chairman is Abdulraham Abubakar, while Helen Adoh serves as National Secretary.
22. Zenith Labour Party (ZLP): Registered in 2018. Its National Chairman is Dan Nwanyanwu, while Yahaya Makama serves as National Secretary.

From 91 parties to 22

Nigeria’s political party system has experienced significant changes over the years.

Before the 2019 general election, the country had 91 registered political parties. However, INEC deregistered 74 parties on February 6, 2020, citing their failure to meet constitutional requirements, including stipulated electoral performance conditions.

The decision led to legal challenges by some affected parties, with court interventions resulting in the restoration of certain political organisations.

The registration of newer parties has also contributed to changes in the number of recognised political platforms.

Political parties prepare for 2027 elections

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the 22 registered parties are expected to participate in the political activities leading to the polls, including the nomination of candidates for elective positions.

INEC has also confirmed the submission of membership registers by all 22 parties as part of preparations for the elections.

The parties are expected to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act and other electoral guidelines governing candidate nominations, campaigns and participation in the general election.

The current list reflects Nigeria’s multiparty political system, which allows different political associations to seek electoral participation under the country’s constitutional framework.

Note: Founding years and INEC registration years are not necessarily the same. Some parties were established before their formal registration, while others returned to the register following court decisions.