INEC Explains Non-Registration Of APC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that it did not register the African People Congress (APC) as a political party because it did not meet the conditions for registration.

The INEC Director of Public Affairs, Mr Emmanuel Umenger, told newsmen last week  in Abuja that the commission’s letter to APC was unambiguous on the issue.

Umenger said that it was left for the party to prove the commission wrong.

He said: “INEC as a law obeying body, relates with stakeholders in the electoral process basically on what the law of the land says.

“Our relationship with the stakeholders is determined by the relevant sections of the law.

“We don’t go outside the law, INEC has premised the non-registration of APC on its inability to satisfy the requirements of section 222a of the 1999 constitution as amended.

Umenger said that the commission also observed that there were some gaps in the form PA1 which was given to the political association.

“In our acknowledgement, 20 copies of the commission’s prescribed form PA1 were forwarded to the association for completion and return to the commission with affidavit in support of the claims in the form.

“Also, we listed other requirements to include establishment of party headquarters in the FCT with proof of ownership, constitution and manifesto of the political association,’’ he said.

According to him, the requirements also include evidence of payment of registration fee, and the association’s logo.

Umenger said as far as the law was concerned, APC did not meet the conditions, therefore, the commission had rejected the application of the APC to be registered as a political party.

However, the Director said that the party was at liberty to apply for registration under a new name.

“You are at the liberty to apply for registration as a political party but as far as APC is concerned the chapter is closed,’’ he said.

The Protem Chairman of African People Congress (APC), Chief Onyinye Ikeagwuonu, had criticised INEC for not registering the party.

Meanwhile  Labour Party Chairman (LP) in the FCT, Mr Adejobi Peter, has expressed satisfaction on the maturity displayed by politicians and INEC over the controversy surrounding APC.

He also expressed delight on the improved political stability in Nigeria and said that the road toward absolute political stability “will be a gradual process”.

The Chairman, who spoke to newsmen in Abuja last week, gave kudos to the Commission for showing some level of maturity and decorum on the issue.

He particularly praised the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, for putting all his experience and intellectual ability in managing the affairs of the Commission.

“Now that we are in the Fourth Republic, we are maintaining some level of stability, politics wise”, he said.

On de-registration of some political parties, Peter expressed optimism that the development would bring sanity to the political process of the country.

“As we approach 2015 general elections, we are going to have more serious political parties coming to play in the political development of the nation for good,” he said.

He allayed the fears in some quarters that the controversy in APC would  affect the political stability of the country.

In its reaction the Africa People’s Congress (APC) says it is ready for judicial review of INEC’s decision not to register the political association, its Acting Chairman, Chief Onyinye Ikeagwuonu, has said.

“Toward this end, the association has raised a 20-man legal team, led by a Senior Advocate to pursue its objective,” he said on Thursday at the association’s world press conference in Abuja

Ikeagwuonu said the team would move out from Abuja on Friday for Obudu on a 10-day seclusion, to enable members have on “in-depth consideration of the association’s legal action.”

He described the decision as “illegal and premeditated”, adding that APC fulfilled constitutional requirements for registration.

“APC wish to announce and declare our resolve to challenge this flimsy decision in court as provided in section 79 of the Electoral Act, “he said.

According to Ikeagwuonu, Section 97 of the Electoral Act states that the decision of the Commission (INEC) not to register any association as a political party may be challenged in a court of law.

The Act adds that “any legal action challenging the decision of the commission shall be Commenced within 30 days from the date of receipt of the letter of notification of non registration from the Commission.

“We shall jealously guard and defend this process until justice is done.

“By the provisions of the section 79 of the electoral Act, judicial review of INEC decision not to register a political association is the final stage in the process of political party registration.”

Ikeagwuonu said that INEC had no right to register any other political party in the association’s name, acronym, symbol or logo, till the matter was finally disposed of by the court.

The Acting Chairman stated that the association had officially written to the INEC National Chairman, a letter of its intention to seek judiciary review.

He added that copies were also sent to INEC National Secretary, Political Party Department and Legal Department, pointing out that all those concerned had received and acknowledged the letter.