Ibrahim Kalgo, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to frustrate efforts by a coalition of political actors seeking to register new parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Friday, Kalgo claimed that INEC’s refusal to register over 70 applications for new political parties reflects a systemic bias and fear of the emerging coalition challenging the status quo.
“I think INEC is being biased and also afraid because the coalition is here to defeat APC come the 2027 election,” he said.
He alleged that rather than serving as an impartial electoral umpire, the electoral body was now operating in cahoots with the ruling government.
“What we are saying is that it is like INEC is working hand in hand with the APC government. These are political parties or groups trying to form a party and give their platform for Nigerians to vote for a new face and a new choice of their own choice,” Kalgo stated.
The PDP chieftain questioned INEC’s refusal to acknowledge the coalition’s party registration requests. “Are you saying all the 70 applicants have filed wrong applications or have not come with complete requirements for them to be created as a new party?” he asked.
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He also cited the electoral guidelines, noting that by law, if INEC responds to a new party application within 90 days, the party should be deemed registered.
“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 said, but expressed concerns over what he described as the APC’s fear of a united opposition. “What are they afraid of? Is it the coalition? Nigerians are tired. They want a new government,” he said.
He criticised the current Bola Tinubu administration’s record, stating, “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 on a daily basis. Unemployment.”
Kalgo concluded with a firm call to action. “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,” he said.
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