A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ibrahim Kalgo, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately stalling efforts by a coalition of political groups aiming to register new parties ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Friday, Kalgo alleged that the electoral body was acting in concert with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to suppress political alternatives and maintain the current political order.
“I think INEC is being biased and also afraid because the coalition is here to defeat APC come 2027 election,” he said, claiming that over 70 applications for party registration had been submitted but ignored by the commission.
“INEC working with APC govt”
Kalgo questioned the electoral body’s neutrality, stating, “It is like INEC is working hand in hand with the APC government. These are political parties or groups trying to create a platform for Nigerians to vote for a new face and a new choice of their own choice.”
He challenged the commission’s failure to process any of the applications, asking, “Are you saying all the 70 applicants have filed wrong applications or not come with complete requirements for them to be created as a new party?”
Citing provisions of the electoral guidelines, Kalgo argued that if the commission does not formally respond to a party registration application within 90 days, the party should be considered registered by default. “When you send a request to INEC to a new party, if INEC acknowledges within 90 days, you are assumed to be registered automatically,” he explained.
Kalgo insisted the reluctance to register new parties is politically motivated, blaming it on fear within the ruling party. “What are they afraid of? Is it the coalition? Nigerians are tired. They want a new government,” he said.
He also delivered a scathing critique of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, describing it as a failure. “The APC government has failed Nigeria woefully, and they are doing nothing about it. This is two years down, and nothing to show on the ground. What are we seeing? Suffering. People are dying daily. Unemployment,” Kalgo said.
Reaffirming the coalition’s determination, he concluded, “We, the coalition, are pushing to see that INEC accepts this request, registers us as a new party, so come 2027 we can give Nigerians the real dividend of the government they are looking for.”
