Tunde Bakare
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from deregistering 31 political parties.
The order was handed down by Justice Anwuli Chikere, as he noted that the political parties had a legal right that must be protected and that the electoral body did not oppose their application.
The suit was filed by the Advanced Congress of Democratic (ACD) and 2 others against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and INEC.
Oriental News Nigeria, reports that the INEC had deregistered by 74 political parties following its review of the 2019 election.
Only 18 political parties had survived the process.
INEC claimed it deregistered the parties as a result of their bad outing in the 2019 general elections.
However, political parties; under the umbrella of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) supported INEC’s decision.
The council said the action of INEC was constitutional.
“It is therefore based on the lawfulness of the action of the commission; the desirability of the need to sanitize the electoral space; that we the 18 political parties in Nigeria hereby endorse this bold step by INEC and commend it for this worthy cause,” the council said in the communique signed by its representatives and sent to journalists.
Also, an election observer group, the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) commended INEC’s decision to deregister the 74 political parties.
ThenCTA, a major stakeholder in the polity; described INEC’s decision as a bold move that will bring further reforms to Nigeria’s electoral process.
Similarly, the APC urged INEC to de-register more political parties. The ruling party explained that such a move will sanitise Nigeria’s electoral system.
