Nigeria has 21 registered political parties approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as of 2026 — up from 18 in 2023. INEC registered two new parties in February 2026 ahead of the 2027 general elections (sources: INEC; Punch).
This guide covers the four major parties, every INEC-registered party today, and the historical roll-call of parties from each republic.
Major Political Parties in Nigeria
The Nigerian constitution allows a multi-party system, but four parties dominate national politics today: APC, PDP, LP and NNPP.
All Progressives Congress (APC)
Founded on 6 February 2013, APC was a merger of four blocs: ANPP, CPC, ACN, and a faction of APGA, joined later by the n-PDP faction. APC has won the presidency in 2015, 2019 and 2023, and currently holds Aso Rock under President Bola Tinubu. Its strongest support sits in the South-West and North-West.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Formed in 1998 as Nigeria returned to democratic rule, PDP won every presidential election from 1999 to 2011 — the longest run by any Nigerian party in the Fourth Republic. Slogan: “Power to the people”. PDP remains the principal opposition party at federal level.
Labour Party (LP)
Founded in 2002 as the Party for Social Democracy (PSD) and renamed Labour Party in 2003. Labour was a minor party for two decades until Peter Obi joined ahead of the 2023 election; he came third in the presidential vote and won Lagos, Abia, Plateau, Enugu, Cross River and the FCT. The “Obidient” movement made LP the country’s third force.
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Founded in 2002 and revitalised in 2022 when Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso joined and ran for President. NNPP swept Kano State in 2023 and now holds the governorship there.
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
SDP was first launched in 1989 by General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime alongside the National Republican Convention. The original party fielded MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the annulled 12 June 1993 election. The current SDP was re-registered in 2003.
Full List of INEC-Registered Political Parties (2026)
INEC currently recognises 21 political parties. The full alphabetical list:
- Accord (A)
- Action Alliance (AA)
- Action Democratic Party (ADP)
- Action Peoples Party (APP)
- African Action Congress (AAC)
- African Democratic Congress (ADC)
- All Progressives Congress (APC)
- All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
- Allied Peoples Movement (APM)
- Boot Party (BP)
- Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) — registered February 2026
- Labour Party (LP)
- National Rescue Movement (NRM)
- New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
- Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) — registered February 2026
- Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
- Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
- Social Democratic Party (SDP)
- Young Progressives Party (YPP)
- Youth Party (YP)
- Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
Political Parties by Republic
First Republic (1960–1966)
- Action Group (AG)
- Borno Youth Movement (BYM)
- Convention People’s Party of Nigeria and the Cameroons
- Democratic Party of Nigeria and Cameroon (DPNC)
- Dynamic Party (DP)
- Igala Union (IU)
- Igbira Tribal Union (ITU)
- Kano People’s Party (KPP)
- Lagos State United Front (LSUF)
- Mabolaje Grand Alliance (MGA)
- Midwest Democratic Front (MDF)
- National Independence Party (NIP)
- National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons / National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC)
- Niger Delta Congress (NDC)
- Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP)
- Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU)
- Northern People’s Congress (NPC)
- Northern Progressive Front (NPF)
- Republican Party (RP)
- United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC)
- United National Independence Party (UNIP)
- Zamfara Commoners Party (ZCP)
Second Republic (1979–1983)
- Greater Nigerian People’s Party (GNPP)
- National Party of Nigeria (NPN)
- Nigeria Advance Party (NAP)
- Nigerian People’s Party (NPP)
- People’s Redemption Party (PRP)
- Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN)
- Movement of the People Party (MPP)
Aborted Third Republic (1989–1993)
- National Republican Convention (NRC)
- Social Democratic Party (SDP)
The 1993 presidential election under these two parties was annulled by the military government.
Transition Era (1996–1998)
- National Democratic Coalition (NADECO)
- Committee for National Consensus (CNC)
- Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN)
- Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM)
- National Centre Party of Nigeria (NCPN)
- United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP)
- Justice Party (JP)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many political parties are in Nigeria today?
21 INEC-registered political parties as of February 2026. The two newest are the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Who is the current ruling party in Nigeria?
The All Progressives Congress (APC) holds the presidency under President Bola Tinubu, elected in 2023.
Why did INEC deregister so many parties?
In 2020 INEC deregistered 74 parties under the constitutional power granted by the Fourth Alteration Act, which allows deregistration for failure to win seats or polling thresholds. The number has since risen back up through new registrations and Federal High Court orders.
What is the difference between APC and PDP?
APC is broadly centre-right, formed in 2013 to unseat PDP. PDP is broadly centre-left and held the presidency from 1999 to 2015. In practice the policy gap is narrow; the bigger differences are in regional support bases.
Can a party be deregistered in Nigeria?
Yes. INEC can deregister parties that fail to win at least one seat in a presidential, governorship, National Assembly or State Assembly election, or that breach registration conditions.
Who founded the Labour Party?
The Labour Party was founded in 2002 as the Party for Social Democracy (PSD) by Dan Iwuanyanwu and other progressives. It was renamed Labour Party in 2003.
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Below are the lists of the current
Political Parties in Nigeria.
Advanced Congress of
Democrats (ACD)
Alliance for Democracy (AD)
All Progressives Congress
(APC)
African Democratic Congress
(ADC)
All Progressives Grand
Alliance (APGA)
All People’s Party (APP)
African Renaissance Party
[ARP]
Conscience People’s Congress
[CPC]
Communist Party of Nigeria
(CPN)
Citizens Popular Party (CPP)
Democratic Alternative (DA)
Democratic Socialist
Movement (DSM)
Fresh Democratic Party (FDP)
Labour Party [LP]
Masses Movement of Nigeria
(MMN)
National Conscience Party
(NCP)
New Democrats (ND)
National Democratic Party
(NDP)
People’s Democratic Party
(PDP)
Progressive Peoples Alliance
(PPA)
People Progressive Party
(PPP)
People’s Redemption Party
(PRP)
People’s Salvation Party
(PSP)
(aa) ACTION ALLIANCE
Social Democratic Mega Party
(SDMP)
Socialist Party of Nigeria
(SPN)
Social Democratic Party
(SDP)
United Nigeria People’s Party
(UNPP)
United Progressive Party
(UPP)
Mega People Politic
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I understand you have 40 registered political parties now, but you show only 30 in the above list?
I understand you have 40 registered political parties now, but you show only 30 in the above list?