No fewer than 74 polictical parties have been de-registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It also announced September 19 as date for the governorship election in Edo state, and October 10 for that of Ondo state.

The INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, announced this in a press conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He said this because of their failure to meet various criteria stipulated by the constitution during the elections.

The INEC chairman said the number of Nigeria’s political parties now stand at 18.

Details later…