INEC to deregister more political parties

The Independent Electoral Commission has said it would continue the deregistration of political parties that do not meet stipulated standards.

INEC’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel Umenger, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that deregistration of political parties was a continuous process.

Umenger, however, did not state when another set of parties would be deregistered.

He said, “The registration and deregistration of political parties are continuous processes. But I can’t tell you when next political parties would be deregistered. Parties are deregistered based on certain reasons and we have communicated to all the parties reasons for their deregistration.”

When asked if more parties would be deregistered before the 2015 general election, he said, “Let’s not put the cart before the horse.”

Last Thursday, INEC announced the deregistration of 28 political parties including Pastor Chris Okotie’s Fresh Democratic Party; Balarabe Musa’s Peoples Redemption Party; the National Reformation Party, founded by the late nationalist, Anthony Enahoro; the National Advance Party of Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, and the Democratic Peoples Alliance of ex-Finance Minister, Chief Olu Falae.

Also on the list of parties were African Liberation Party, Action Party of Nigeria, African Political System, Better Nigeria Progressive Party, Congress for Democratic Change, Community Party of Nigeria, Freedom Party of Nigeria, Hope Democratic Party, Justice Party, Liberal Democratic Party of Nigeria, Movement for Democracy and Justice, and the Movement for the Restoration and Defence of Democracy.

Others were New Democrats, National Majority Democratic Party, National Movement of Progressive Party, National Solidarity Democratic Party, Progressive Action Congress, Peoples Mandate Party, Peoples Progressive Party, People’s Salvation Party, Republican Party of Nigeria, United National Party for Development and the United Nigeria Peoples Party.

According to a statement by the commission’s Secretary, Abdullahi Kaugama, INEC said it deregistered the 28 parties “in the exercise of the powers conferred on it by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).”

It pledged its commitment to relating with political parties in accordance with extant laws and for the benefit of the nation’s electoral democracy.

Punch