The leadership of Team New Nigeria has raised concerns over alleged political interference in the registration process of the group as a political party, claiming that top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission are under pressure to withhold approval.
In a statement released to the press and signed by TNN spokesperson, Dr. Mohammed Adah Shaibu, in Kaduna, the group disclosed that it had submitted an application for registration since May 27, 2024.
The statement noted that INEC acknowledged receipt of the application but has failed to take any further action, despite statutory guidelines.
He expressed dismay that “since the submission of the application for registration, INEC only wrote an acknowledgment letter promising to notify them when the registration portal will be opened for submission of application and documentation, and all efforts made to remind the INEC Chairman, Professor Yakubu Mahmoud of the intendment of the Constitution and the Electoral Act has proven abortive, despite the passage of the 90 days threshold, the period within which the Commission’s Guidelines mandatorily required him to respond to such letter of intent”.
According to the group, INEC’s delay suggests external influence by individuals within the commission with affiliations to the ruling party. The statement warned that the electoral body must uphold its neutrality if it is to maintain credibility ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“For how long should we wait, to get registered? Our presence is all over the country and we have limited time to deliver our manifestos to the electorates.
“There is no doubt that INEC is under tremendous pressure, from both the card-carrying APC members of the Commission and their collaborators who are mortally afraid of the TNN, and who will want the electoral body to commence, right now, the process of rigging the 2027 election in their favour.
“But we urge INEC not to compromise its neutrality and integrity by acting contrary to the law. We remind the Commission that Nigerians are keenly watching how it will handle this TNN issue, and whatever it does will determine whether or not Nigerians can count on it to organise free, fair, and credible elections in 2027,” the statement said.
He also said, “Given the already over-heated polity ahead of the 2027 elections, we believe INEC will not do anything that will aggravate the situation”.
The group appealed to INEC to adhere strictly to its own regulations, as well as the Nigerian Constitution, to enable TNN’s registration and subsequent participation in elections at all levels.
Meanwhile, TNN has called for calm among its supporters across the country.
“We know that many of our teeming supporters are upset by the report of the shenanigans in INEC over this issue. But they need to remain law-abiding as we await the decision of the INEC.”
