The National Conscience Party, NCP, has filed an appeal against a court ruling which backed a recent decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to de-register political parties that failed to meet certain electoral requirements.
At a press briefing on Friday, NCP Chairman, Yunusa Tanko, said the party had rejected Justice Okon Abang’s ruling which says that INEC had the power to de-register political parties that had failed to win previous election.
The party intends to argue that the section of the electoral law relating to the de-registering of political parties contravenes Section 40 of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution and that the constitution should supersede other laws, including electoral.
Although the electoral body did not de-register NCP, the party said it felt it was necessary to challenge the electoral body’s exercise of the provisions of Section 78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act 2010.
It also expressed fears that INEC’s hammer might also fall on the party. Tanko in his complaint said, “The learned judge even went as far as encouraging INEC to be indolent, holding brief for INEC and saying that if the political parties are too many, INEC will not be able to conduct elections,” said the chairman of the NCP. This is unheard of.”
He cited examples of countries, such as the United States of America with hundreds of political parties without the requirement that all of them must win elections or lose their status through de-registration.
The party wants the Nigerian Court of Appeal to set aside Justice Abang’s verdict it announced on March 6, that upheld INEC’s power to de-register political parties, DailyPost has authoritatively gathered.
INEC had de-registered some political parties on the grounds that they failed to win a presidential, governorship or National Assembly election in the last general election.
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