INEC declares position on party merger, defection

Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), says defection by politicians is in order within the ambit of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guidelines.

Agboke said this on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

He said that the commission also had no restriction against two or more political parties merging, subject to their agreement to come together and foster a common front.

According to Agboke, the commission was only interested in healthy rivalry among political parties and allowing the people to make informed political choices.

“The commission does not want a situation where an individual or group is compelling people to go in a particular direction because doing this will be a very bad development for Nigeria’s democratic process.

“Compelling people to go to a particular political party would not be healthy for the 2019 general elections.

“Whatever INEC and political parties do must fall within the extant law,” he said.

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