According to a report from The Standard, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has rejected applications from seven hopeful political parties, including the Unite Movement for Change (UMC) and the National Democratic Party (NDP). It appears that these parties did not meet the requirements outlined in the Elections Act.
Pa Makan Khan, the spokesperson for the IEC, spoke to The Standard and stated that the groups were given the opportunity to revise and resubmit their documents after their initial submissions were found to have deficiencies. One of the main issues was the failure to provide a list of 10,000 voters, which is a necessary component of the application process. Khan emphasized that registering as a political party is a fundamental right, but it must be done in accordance with the law.
In response to allegations that the IEC insisted Talib Bensouda step down from the United Democratic Party (UDP) before registering UMC, Khan dismissed such claims, stating that the issue of resignation “does not apply.” He also denied any accusations of external pressure, reaffirming that the process strictly adheres to legal requirements.
The IEC clarified that some applications were submitted in November 2025 and had already been reviewed by January of the following year. The parties are now required to address the concerns raised during the review process before resubmitting their applications.
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