Deregistration of political parties: ANN slams INEC, describes action as hasty, unconstitutional
The Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) one of the recently deregistered 74 political parties has described the announcement of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deregistering the 74 registered political parties as hasty and unconstitutional.
Reacting to the announcement at a press conference in Lagos, chairman of the ANN, Mr. Emmanuel Dania noted however that its response to the announcement of INEC is borne out of consideration for the principles of justice, fair play and respect for the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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According to him, “The Nigerian constitution is bigger than any organ or arm or agency of government and the provisions are to be upheld and respected by all including INEC.
“The constitutional position is clear on how and when political parties can be deregistered and that position is yet to be attained. This position is contained in the press statement of Thursday, February 6, 2020 of the Inter Party Advisory Council of Nigeria, IPAC which clearly highlighted that the constitutional provisions are clear as stated in section 229 defines a political party to include association whose activities shall include canvassing for votes in support of a candidate for election into a Local Government Council and this provision has not been fully and completed exhausted as a political party because we have candidates in Local Government Areas whose elections are coming up soon.
“We are therefore stating that INEC as an institution ought to have been responsible enough to have waited until elections are held in all 774 LGAs and 8,809 Electoral Wards in Nigeria before the hasty announcement of Thursday, February 6, 2020 was made.
“We are therefore not deterred by this announcement and we are in alignment with the position of IPAC that a matter that is already before a competent court of law and yet to be decided cannot be subjected to the whiles and caprices of INEC.
“It is important to reemphasise the fact that 33 political parties, who are members of the Council, moved a motion in Court 3, at the Federal High Court in Abuja for an Order of interlocutory injunction restraining INEC from deregistering the concerned political parties, pending the determination of the suit.”
The party further added that besides that the council elections it was also warming up to take part in the governorship elections coming up in Edo and Ondo states, noting that if the action of INEC as annonced was not reversed the party would be put in serious disadvantage by the development.
