INEC Registers Two New Parties, PDM, ID

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said it has registered two new political parties. The two parties are the Independent Democrats (ID) and the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

According to a statement by the national secretary of the electoral commission, Mrs. Augusta Chinwe Ogakwu, both parties were registered “in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended).

“the newly registered parties are the Independent Democrats (ID) and the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM).

“The Constitution, Manifesto, Logo/Flag and list of National Executive Officers of each party have also been approved by the Commission.”

The new parties emerged barely 24 hours after the INEC denied corroborating a report that former  Vice President,  Abubakar Atiku and nine governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were seeking to register a new party, PDM.

Atiku, on his part, said he has not dumped the PDP but acknowledged that his associates are behind the new party.

He however said he welcomes the expansion of the political space to accommodate all shades of opinions or political hue, adding that many of his political associates are equally members of the political parties other than the PDP.