INEC Awaits Court Judgments On De-Registered Political Parties

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, has said that the commission would await whatever decisions and judgments to be made by the court on the 28 political parties de-registered recently.

Jega told newsmen in Abuja recently that some of the affected parties were not happy and were seeking legal redress.

He said, “We have taken a decision to de-register 28 political parties and as far as we are concerned we have acted legally.

“Of course, many political parties de-registered are not happy about the decision; we understand that some of them have gone to court or have said they are going to go to court.

“But we await whatever decisions or judgments are to be made by the courts.”

Jega cited the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) stating that “Any political party which contests elections and does not win any electoral seat shall be de-registered.

“Our constitution allows for a multi-party system, but we have the power to de-register parties and we have started.

“It is a continuous process and we will continue to de-register parties that do not meet requirements for registration, therefore de-registration of the 28 political parties stands.

“As political parties meet the requirements of registration we register them and as they are in the breach of requirements and the breaches are such that they deserve de-registration, we will de-register them.

It would be recalled that in April, INEC de-registered seven political parties, and on Thursday, December 6, the commission further de-registered 28 political parties.

Following these two exercises, the number of registered political parties has come down to 30 from 63.