The Movement of the People (MOP), a political group inspired by the legacy and activism of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has renewed its call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant it official registration as a political party, ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group, led by musician and activist Seun Kuti, son of the iconic Fela, is championing a campaign tagged “Register To Rise: The People’s Voice for Electoral Justice”. According to MOP, the campaign seeks to highlight ongoing challenges hindering political participation in Nigeria, particularly the procedural and bureaucratic delays involved in party registration.
In a statement made available on Sunday and signed by Seun Kuti in his capacity as Protem Chairman of the movement, MOP expressed deep concern over what it described as the shrinking democratic space and the lack of opportunity for new political voices to emerge. Kuti argued that Nigeria’s democracy risks stagnation if the political space continues to be dominated by a limited number of registered parties, especially when fresh entrants are systematically shut out.
“Our democracy cannot thrive under a system where access is consistently denied to new voices,” Seun Kuti stated. “Since 2018, INEC has not registered a single new political party, while it has deregistered 72 others. This is a troubling development that severely restricts political choice and undermines democratic representation in Nigeria.”
The group revealed that it has made four separate submissions to INEC seeking registration as a political party since 2021. The latest application, according to Kuti, was submitted on March 1, 2025, yet there has been no formal communication or progress reported by the electoral body. MOP insists it has fulfilled all legal and procedural requirements for registration.
“For four years, we have complied with every regulation and followed every step laid down by INEC,” the group noted. “Despite this, we are still being denied the basic right to participate as a political party. This is not just an issue for MOP; it is a matter of principle that affects the health of Nigeria’s democracy. It is about opening up our political space to accommodate fresh ideas, young voices, and alternative visions for our future.”
As part of its wider mobilisation strategy, MOP disclosed plans to intensify digital engagement, grassroots community outreach, and build strategic coalitions with civil society organisations and democratic reform advocates to press home its demand for inclusive political processes.
When contacted, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity at INEC, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, denied claims that the electoral commission had been unresponsive to the group’s registration bid. Speaking via telephone, she stated, “That definitely cannot be true—that we are not responding to their request. I need to confirm the situation from the department, but what they are saying is not accurate.”
According to the Electoral Act 2022, INEC is empowered to register political parties that meet prescribed conditions and can suspend the registration of new parties 12 months before a general election. With the 2027 general elections drawing closer, MOP is pushing for its registration to be processed before the statutory deadline, expected to fall sometime in early 2026.
As the political terrain begins to heat up ahead of the next electoral cycle, MOP’s push underscores a broader concern about access, representation, and the responsiveness of Nigeria’s democratic institutions to evolving political demands.
