Politics
Politics Of Parties De-registration
Recently, the Independent National Electoral Commission had de-registered seven out of the registered 63 political parties.
The seven parties were said to have failed to field candidates for various elective positions during the last general elections.
The affected parties are Democratic Alternatives, National Democratic Council, National Action Council, Mass Movement of Nigeria, Nigeria People Congress, Nigeria Elements Progressive Party and the National Unity Party.
Announcing the decision, the chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega said although there was a case before, a federal high court on the de-registration of political parties, the affected parties were not parties to the case.
He said the Commission decided to invoke the provisions of section 78 (7) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended, section 78 subsection 7 (1) and (ii) said that the commission shall have power to de-register political parties on the following grounds (i) Breach of any of the requirements for registration and (ii) for failure to win presidential or governorship election or a seat in the National or State Assembly election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission is insisting on the effective compliance with these provisions of the Electoral Act, but some political party leaders and politicians had noted that deregistration of political parties is irrelevant for now.
Meanwhile, If INEC opts to act and exercise the statutory powers vested in the commission on the later part of the Electoral Act provision then 56 political parties beside, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Action Congress of Nigeria ((ACN) All Nigeria People Party (ANPP) Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Labour Party (LP) and Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) will be scrapped.
The INEC’s chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega addressing newsmen recently said INEC was ready to commence the process of de-registration of political parties that failed to win a seat in the April polls.
But Prince Favour Felix Reuben state chairman, Labour Party faulted INEC decision , but advised the commission to focus attention on the process of strengthening democratic tenets in Nigeria rather than deregistering political parties.
Prince Reuben said “INEC should rather strengthen the democratic institutions in order to restore the confidence of Nigerians, and the International community.
Also, a legal practitioner based in Port Harcourt, Theoplilus Oru said INEC should allow the smaller political parties exist along side the major political parties.
Barr Oru said “INEC must improve on the requirements for the registration process by a political party and not to limit the political space by contemplating or intending to deregister some political parties”.
He further stressed that “even in the advance countries smaller political parties exist alongside the major national political parties”.
The legal practitioner added that “the political space must be opened up, broaden to enrich the nation’s political flavour , and participatory democracy by Nigerians”.
John Okarafor, a legal practitioner of Ezra Chambers based in Port Harcourt agreed that some of the existing political parities are only on paper without any evidence of visible offices in most states”
However, he reasoned that the deluge of orders served on the commission by various courts, should not compel Prof Attahiru Jega to pay the small parties in their own corn.
He further said, some political parties existed in name, while some of these so called political parties were formed as extension of family business to collect subvention from INEC without any business of being a political party.
Barr Okarafor supported INEC to deregister or scrap political parties that have failed to make any electoral impact during the April polls.
Looking at the recommendations of the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) set up in 2007 under the distinguished chairmanship of retired Chief Justice of the Federation Hon Justice Muhammadu Uwais that Section 222 of the 1999 constitution should be amended to add two more conditions to be met by association seeking registration as political parties namely (i) the association must maintain functional and verifiable offices in at least two thirds of the states of the federation. Again, that political party which score below 25 per cent of vote at an election should be denied INEC grant.
Barr Okarafor said most of the political parties have failed to meet up this provision of scoring 25 per cent during election and having national offices in 2/3 of the 36 states and therefore should be deregistered immediately by INEC.
However, to stop INEC from executing the provision of the Electoral Act Section 78 (7) (ii) Hon Emmanuel Rukari, a leader of a registered political party, African Renaissance Party (ARP) had dragged the National Assembly before an Abuja Federal High Court seeking a declaration that the National Assembly went contrary to the provision of Section 40 of the Nation’s constitution by giving powers to INEC to deregister any political party that failed to win seats in either the National or State House of Assembly.
Section 40 of the 1999 constitution as amended states that “Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular he may form or belong to any political, trade union or any other association for the protection of his interests.”
Provided that the provisions of this section shall not derogate from the powers conferred by this constitution on the Independent National Electoral Commission with respect to political parties to which that commission does not accord recognition”.
Furthermore, other plaintiffs in the originating summons of the legal action before the Federal High Court over the power of deregistration of political parties included International Society for Social Justice and Humanity (ISSJH) while the defendants are the Senate, House of Representatives and INEC.
Dr Amuda-Kannike, a Port Harcourt based legal practitioner is the plaintiff’s lawyer. He said: we are asking the Federal High Court to determine whether section 78 (7) (11) of part V of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended should not be declared null and void because it runs contrary to section 40 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
Dr Amuda-Kannike further said: it is the said section 40 of the constitution that provided room for formalities of most political association in Nigeria giving rise to formation of political parties, which include the first plaintiff political party African Renaissance Party (ARP).
Dr Kannike further argued that the introduction of Section 78 (7) (11) into the Electoral Act was a ploy by members of the National Assembly to allow only their parties to participate in the electoral process while others will be excluded.
Other legal practitioners reacting to INEC move to Prone the number of political parties said registration and existence of political parties is a constitutional matter, which an Act of the National Assembly cannot invalidate.
Barr Jas Awanen said: if political parties are to be deregistered then the constitution which provides for the registration of such political parties would have to be amended before the deregistration can be carried out by INEC.
Therefore, it stands to be reasoned that every provision not in conformity with the constitution cannot stand.
Political analyst argued that reducing the number of political parties to either two or three will not only enhance and strengthen the survival of Nigeria’s democratic institutions but ensure meaningful participatory democracy in the country.
Let the court decides before INEC comply with the provision of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
This step many political observers argued would remove the suspicion that there is no under hand dealings in the temple of justice that warned against violation of the rule of law.
Philip – Wuwu Okparaji
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun deploying non-sensitive materials to the zones as it prepares for the 2027 general election.
Acting Chairman of the commission, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, disclosed this in Abuja, yesterday at a bench-marking meeting with a delegation of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“Right now, all non-sensitive materials are almost ready. In fact, today as we speak here, the non-sensitive materials have been lifted to some zones now,” Gumus said.
She said the commission had completed nine of its scheduled activities and was preparing for the next phase.
“We are preparing for the election next year and we have activities lined up. So far, we have been able to complete nine activities and we are still preparing for the next level of activities,” she said.
Gumus said the commission’s leadership had just concluded a tour of the country’s six zones to assess their level of preparedness.
“The purpose was to go round the zones to see how prepared we are, assess what the zones have put in place, their challenges and what to do. We concluded last week and we can see from our tour that we are really going towards the election proper,” she said.
On Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), the acting chairman said production had been completed and distribution to the states was well advanced.
“As of today, we can say that PVCs have been produced and the first, second batches, most of the states have received them. Their PVC collection is ongoing. All those who are supposed to be the voters are supposed to receive their PVCs, and if they don’t have them, it is also another challenge,” Gumus said.
She added that capacity building was under way for staff at the headquarters and in the states, and that the procurement and deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS devices were also ongoing.
On diaspora voting, Gumus said the commission could not proceed for now because the law did not provide for it.
“Here, because we go by the law, in our electoral law, it is not included there, so we cannot go on for the diaspora voting for now until we amend the electoral law,” she said.
The acting chairman said the commission had arranged for its directors to hold an interactive session with the Kenyan team and present papers on the work of their departments.
Leading the delegation, the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Isaac Parashina, said the IEBC team was in Nigeria to benchmark ahead of Kenya’s general election in August 2027.
He said the team was studying how Nigeria handled its diaspora population and special voting groups, as Kenya sought to widen voting rights for citizens living abroad.
“Currently we have about 12 of them who voted in the last general election, but there is intention to expand to around, I think, 26,” Parashina said, referring to the countries where Kenyans abroad vote.
He said the expansion was a constitutional requirement backed by Kenyan court rulings, and would be enforced progressively.
Parashina said Nigeria’s election, which he noted would come in two rounds, would be closely watched across Africa.
“Everyone is looking at what Nigeria will do because it is the biggest democracy in Africa. The success of Nigeria remains a great success to Kenya and indeed to the continent,” he added.
The High Commissioner thanked INEC for receiving the team despite a tight schedule and wished the commission success.
Governor Douye Diri has set a target of at least one million votes for President Bola Tinubu in Bayelsa State in the 2027 presidential election, while charging the newly inaugurated All Progressives Congress (APC) State Campaign Council to prioritise reconciliation, party unity and collective electoral mobilisation.
Governor Diri gave the charge at the inauguration of the 20-member campaign council at the APC secretariat in Yenagoa, where he warned that internal divisions could undermine the party’s efforts to secure victory for President Tinubu and other candidates at the federal and state levels.
Governor Diri urged party members who were not appointed to the council to support its activities by taking the APC’s message to communities, wards and polling units across the state.
He specifically charged the campaign team to mobilise at least one million votes for President Tinubu, arguing that Bayelsa’s voting strength had increased and should be reflected in the 2027 election results.
“I give you a target that in Bayelsa, we must not bring less than one million votes for Mr President. You are going to campaign, and you have a lot to talk about the President. He has done so much for our people,” the governor said.
He listed the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the second phase of the Nembe-Brass Road, interventions in the power sector, federal appointments for Bayelsa indigenes and the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy among the achievements the campaign should present to voters.
The governor particularly praised President Tinubu for the coastal highway project, arguing that it reflected federal attention to the development needs of coastal communities.
“No president, alive or dead, has remembered the coastal people and coastal states to say let us do this signature project from Lagos to Calabar. The first president to think about it is Bola Tinubu, and those were the demands of the Ijaw people,” he said.
Governor Diri also expressed hope that a second term for President Tinubu would provide an opportunity to advance demands for fiscal federalism, greater resource control and state policing, which he described as longstanding aspirations of the Niger Delta.
He said the President had shown indications of addressing some of the demands of younger Nigerians and argued that re-election would allow the administration to consolidate its reforms.
The governor further cautioned campaigners against personal attacks and abusive exchanges with political opponents, insisting that the APC should focus its campaign on issues, policies and achievements.
The governor’s mobilisation directive comes amid criticism from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has questioned his commitment to President Tinubu’s re-election campaign, alleging that APC campaign billboards erected across Yenagoa promote other party candidates without featuring the President.
The PDP, through its Publicity Secretary, Mr Ikaebimo Mark, said the billboards showed Governor Diri urging voters to support APC candidates for the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections without identifying President Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate.
Mr Mark described the omission as an indication that the governor was not fully aligned with the APC’s national leadership.
“When we said that the governor, Senator Douye Diri, is not supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we knew exactly what we were saying. Now Governor Douye Diri has erected APC campaign billboards across Bayelsa State without Tinubu’s picture. He is even afraid to associate himself with the photograph of the presidential candidate of his own party. How can this governor claim to be supporting President Tinubu?” he said.
The PDP, however, maintained that the governor’s public campaign posture raised questions about his commitment to the President’s re-election bid. Its allegation over the billboards now places the issue of the relationship between the state APC leadership and the party’s national campaign among the political questions likely to feature in Bayelsa’s preparations for 2027.
The PDP’s allegation has introduced a fresh political dimension to the APC’s preparations in Bayelsa, even as Governor Diri publicly called on party leaders and members to close ranks and mobilise support for all its candidates.
“Every person picked as a member of this campaign council was carefully scrutinised. I want to tell you that our campaign team is loaded. We parade the best candidates among all the parties in Bayelsa State, and there is no doubt about that,” he said.
He urged members to remain focused and united, warning that political opponents could exploit any divisions within the party.
“Our unity is very important because they would want to feast on our disunity. We will not give them that opportunity. Please, as you carry out this assignment, do not take your eyes off the target,” Hon. Ogoriba said.
SP Edafe explained that during the meeting, the organisers were briefed on the identified security threats and advised against embarking on an open-road procession.
Instead, the police reportedly recommended that the political activities be conducted at a designated venue where adequate security arrangements could be provided.
However, the Command alleged that the organisers disregarded the security advice and proceeded with the road procession.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Government has condemned the political violence that erupted in Asaba, the state capital, on Saturday, confirming that one person was killed while four others sustained serious injuries.
The government described the incident as unfortunate and unacceptable, warning political parties and their supporters against actions capable of threatening public peace, security and democratic participation in the state.
In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, the government reiterated its zero tolerance for political violence, intimidation and other forms of political misconduct.
Mr Aniagwu said the government had repeatedly cautioned political parties against engaging in activities capable of disrupting the peace, insisting that the incident could have been avoided if the organisers had followed security advice.
According to him, the police had advised the organisers to cancel the proposed street march and instead conduct their political campaign at a designated venue where adequate security arrangements could be provided.
He expressed concern that the advice was allegedly disregarded, resulting in a confrontation that claimed one life and left four other people seriously injured.
The government subsequently called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the violence and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.
Mr Aniagwu further warned that the state government would not tolerate politically motivated attacks against any individual, regardless of political affiliation.
He maintained that Delta State remained safe for residents and visitors, stressing that the government would not allow the actions of individuals or groups to undermine the prevailing peace and security in the state.
The government also urged political parties, their leaders and supporters to conduct their political activities within the confines of the law and demonstrate respect for human life, public order and the rights of other citizens.
The latest development follows an attack on supporters of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) during a political procession in Asaba, which reportedly left several participants injured and campaign vehicles vandalised.
The government’s condemnation comes amid growing concerns over political violence and the safety of opposition supporters as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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