The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved two new political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections, raising the total number of registered parties in Nigeria to 21.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), announced the approval of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Abuja on Thursday. While DLA met all statutory requirements, NDC was registered following a Federal High Court order.

Full list of registered political parties in Nigeria:

All Progressives Congress (APC)
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
Accord (A)
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Labour Party (LP)
All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA)
African Democratic Congress (ADC)
Boot Party (BP)
Action Democratic Party (ADP)
African Action Congress (AAC)
Action Alliance (AA)
National Rescue Movement (NRM)
Zenith Labour Party (ZLP)
New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)
Allied Peoples Movement (APM)
Peoples Redemption Party (PRP)
Action Peoples Party (APP)
Young Progressives Party (YPP)
Youth Party (YP)
Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) – new
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) – new

INEC said the new parties were registered as part of efforts to deepen democratic participation and broaden political choices for Nigerians.

The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a notice of appeal challenging his conviction and multiple sentences imposed by the Federal High Court in Abuja, insisting that the trial was riddled with fundamental legal errors and amounted to a miscarriage of justice.

In the notice of appeal dated February 4, 2026, Kanu said he was appealing against his conviction and sentences on seven counts, including terrorism-related offences, for which he received five life sentences and additional prison terms after being found guilty on November 20, 2025.

“I, Nnamdi Kanu, the Appellant, having been convicted and sentenced… do hereby give notice of appeal against my conviction,” the document stated.

Kanu was convicted for offences including “committing an act preparatory to or in furtherance of an act of terrorism,” “making a broadcast… with intent to intimidate the population,” and “being the leader and member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed organisation in Nigeria,” among others.

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered the judgment on November 20, 2025, sentencing Kanu to five life terms for terrorism-related offences, 20 years’ imprisonment for being the leader of the proscribed IPOB, and five years’ imprisonment with no option of fine for importing a radio transmitter without a licence.

In his grounds of appeal, the IPOB leader accused the trial court of failing to resolve what he described as a “foundational disruption of the original trial process” following the 2017 military operation at his Afara-Ukwu residence.

“The learned trial judge erred in law by failing to resolve the procedural and competence consequences of the foundational disruption of the original trial process in September 2017,” Kanu argued.

He also contended that the court proceeded to trial and judgment while his preliminary objection challenging the competence of the proceedings remained unresolved.

“The learned trial judge did not hear or determine the objection,” the appeal document stated, adding that judgment was delivered “while the objection remained pending and undetermined.”

Kanu further faulted the court for delivering judgment while his bail application was still pending, arguing that this affected the fairness of the trial process.

He also claimed that the trial court convicted him under a law that had already been repealed, stating that “the learned trial judge erred in law by convicting and sentencing the Appellant under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013, notwithstanding its repeal by the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, prior to judgment.”

Kanu further argued that he was subjected to double jeopardy, contrary to Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution, after being retried on facts he said had earlier been nullified by the Court of Appeal.

He also complained that he was denied fair hearing, claiming that he was not allowed to file or present a final written address before judgment was delivered.

Among the reliefs sought, Kanu asked the Court of Appeal to allow the appeal, quash his conviction and sentences, and “discharge and acquit the Appellant in respect of all the counts.”

He also informed the appellate court of his desire to be present at the hearing of the appeal, stating, “I want to be present at the hearing of the appeal because I may be conducting the appeal in person.”

Kanu is currently being held at a correctional facility in Sokoto State, after his application to be transferred to a different facility in either Niger or Nasarawa State was denied.

The United States military has officially acknowledged the presence of American troops in Nigeria, confirming that a limited contingent of US forces has been deployed to the country.

This marks the first public confirmation of US boots on the ground since American airstrikes carried out in December.

According to a Reuters report, the announcement was made by Dagvin Anderson, the head of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).

He explained that the deployment followed a bilateral understanding between Washington and Abuja aimed at boosting counterterrorism cooperation.

Ekwutosblog had earlier reported that President Donald Trump authorized airstrikes on what he described as Islamic State camps in North-east Nigeria. The strikes were carried out on 25 December 2025.

Although both Nigerian and US authorities described the operation as successful, reports later emerged of unexploded ordnance believed to be remnants of the strikes discovered in civilian-populated locations across Kwara, Niger and Sokoto states.

The December missile attacks occurred weeks after Mr Trump threatened to go “guns-a-blazing” into the “now disgraced country” following Nigeria’s redesignation as a country of particular concern, based on claims of “Christian genocide.”

The Nigerian government strongly rejected the allegation, maintaining that insecurity in the country affects citizens of all religions. It urged the US to focus on assisting Nigeria in dismantling terrorist networks rather than advancing narratives capable of deepening national divisions.

Speaking on the nature of the deployment, Mr Anderson, a general, said the unit was offering “unique US capabilities,” but declined to reveal details about the number of personnel involved, their precise mandate, or operational locations.

Reuters also quoted Nigeria’s Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, as confirming the presence of US military personnel in the country, without providing additional clarification.

The latest development comes as Nigeria continues to battle a prolonged insurgency led by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Both groups have escalated attacks in the North-east while attempting to spread their influence into the North-west and North-central regions, areas already grappling with banditry, communal clashes and resource-related conflicts.

In addition to ground cooperation, Washington has been conducting aerial surveillance over Nigeria, with flights reportedly operated from neighbouring Ghana.