Movement of the People (MOP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the embargo on the registration of new political parties, stating that Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive when the political space is continuously restricted.

The group, in a statement, yesterday, by its Spokesperson, Joshua Iduwe, said that as a response to INEC not registering MOP as a political party since 2018, it is launching a nationwide advocacy campaign, “Register To Rise: The People’s Voice for Electoral Justice.”

Iduwe said the campaign hopes to address critical barriers to political participation in Nigeria’s democratic process, focusing on a number of issues, including a request for timely registration of MOP, an aspiring political party, before INEC’s statutory suspension of registrations, likely in February 2026, in anticipation of the 2027 elections.

He added that the MOP, which is a political movement aiming to build an equitable society through people-driven governance, is inspired by the legacy of Fela Kuti.

“Nigeria’s democracy cannot thrive when the political space is continuously restricted.

“Since 2018, no new political party has been registered in Nigeria, while 72 existing parties have been deregistered. This severe restriction limits citizens’ political choices and undermines true democratic representation,” he said.