Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued a strong warning against what it describes as “fake news” circulating regarding the registration of two new political parties.
The electoral body, responsible for overseeing elections in Africa’s most populous nation, took to social media on Wednesday to debunk reports claiming the registration of “Independent Democrats” and “Peoples Democratic Movement.”
In a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), INEC categorically stated, “For the avoidance of doubt, the Commission has not yet registered any new party. The current number of registered political parties in Nigeria is 19. Nothing has been added.”
The Commission further clarified that both the “Independent Democrats” and “Peoples Democratic Movement” had indeed been registered as political parties in August 2013. However, they were subsequently deregistered in February 2020, in accordance with Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
INEC concluded its alert by urging the public to “disregard the said report,” highlighting its commitment to providing accurate information regarding the country’s political landscape.
The incident underscores ongoing concerns in Nigeria about the spread of misinformation, particularly in the lead-up to and during electoral processes.
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