The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has registered 21 new political parties.

• The electoral agency took the decision at its weekly meeting, according to its National Commissioner and member, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mrs May Agbmuche-Mbu.
• The meeting also ratified the dismissal of two of its employees and the retirement of another for complicity in the double registration of Governor of Kogi, Yahaya Bello.
• The meeting agreed to take another look at its plan to conduct elections into the Anambra State Central Senatorial District in view of Wednesday’s judgment.

The 21 newly registered parties are:

All Blending Party,

All Grassroots Alliance,

Alliance for New Nigeria,

Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party,

Coalition for Change,

Freedom and Justice Party,

Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria,

Justice Must Prevail Party,

Legacy Party of Nigeria,

Mass Action Joint Alliance,

Modern Democratic Party,

National Interest Party,

National Rescue Mission,

New Progressive Movement,

Nigeria Democratic Congress Party,

People’s Alliance for National Development and Liberty,

People’s Trust,

Providence People’s Congress,

Re-Build Nigeria Party,

Restoration Party of Nigeria and

Sustainable National Party.

On the Kogi governor’s double registration, the INEC statement said, “Following reports of the alleged double registration by the Governor of Kogi in the on-going Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, the Commission set up a panel of an investigation into the involvement of staff in the matter.

“The initial report submitted by the panel was referred to the Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee, which made recommendations to the Commission.

“While the Governor of Kogi currently enjoys immunity from prosecution, the Commission took the following decisions in respect of its own staff:

• Summary dismissal of two staff for acts of gross misconduct
• Immediate and compulsory retirement of an Electoral Officer for act of gross misconduct.”

On the Anambra Central Senatorial seat, INEC said, “It will be recalled that following the judgment of the Court of Appeal, the Commission announced that the outstanding election to fill the vacant seat for the Anambra Central Senatorial District would take place on 13th January, 2018.

“However, the attention of the Commission has been drawn to the judgment of the Federal High Abuja on the issue, delivered on 13th December 2017.

“The Commission has applied for the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement to enable us take a decision.”

What this means: Nigeria now has 67 political parties for the 2019 elections and more contenders against the regular All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Hopefully, we would not have to see those two big parties luring the other parties to join hands with them to win the election.