The NIP was founded by Anthony Manyeli as a split from the Basotho National Party.

[2][3] The party had previously never won any seats, and its success in winning five seats through proportional representation in the 2002 election was attributed to voter confusion about party symbols:[2][3] its symbol being that of the dove and the symbol of the ruling Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD) being that of the eagle.

NIP party leader Manyeli, expressing surprise at the results, said that this explanation was the only way he could account for them.

[2] In the 17 February 2007 parliamentary election, the party won 21 seats through proportional representation.

[5] Opposition parties trying to have the alliance ruled invalid have said that the appeal ruling was in violation of the constitution; they sought for the NIP members of parliament to be replaced by Manyeli and his supporters.